Treaty Talk Coming To Wyndham

Wyndham residents are being invited to attend a free community talk next month aimed at explaining Victoria’s Treaty process and how it could shape the state in coming years.

The event, organised by Wyndham Libraries, will be held at the Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre in Wyndham Vale on 20 June from 1pm to 2.30pm.

According to the event description, the session will provide an “easy-to-understand overview” of Treaty in Victoria, including how the process is developing, what it may mean for communities and how residents can stay informed.

The event is also being promoted as an opportunity for residents to respectfully engage with the issue and share meaningful conversations about Treaty and its possible impacts on Victoria.

Treaty is a proposed agreement between the Victorian Government and Aboriginal groups aimed at recognising First Nations people and setting out how they will work together in the future.

Treaty Process Underway

Treaty legislation was passed by the Allan Labor Government in 2025, formally advancing Victoria’s Treaty process with Aboriginal groups.

While no final Treaty has yet taken effect, future agreements are expected to include greater Aboriginal involvement in government decision-making, consultation requirements, funding arrangements and self-determination measures.

Supporters argue Treaty is about recognising Indigenous self-determination, addressing historical disadvantage and creating formal mechanisms for Aboriginal communities to have a greater say in decisions affecting them.

However, the process remains politically and socially divisive across parts of the community.

Critics argue the Treaty process risks dividing Victorians along racial lines by creating separate political structures and agreements based on ancestry.

Democracy Debate Ongoing

Others have questioned whether the process has a strong democratic mandate, noting there has never been a statewide referendum or direct vote on Treaty itself.

Some opponents also point to the 2023 federal Voice to Parliament referendum, where Australians voted against the proposal.

They argue the result reflected broader public concerns about embedding Indigenous-specific advisory structures and influence within government systems.

There are also concerns from some legal and political commentators that future Treaty agreements could eventually shape legislation, public policy or funding priorities in ways that give representative bodies significant influence over decision-making.

Partisan Concerns Amid Community Division

Another criticism likely to be raised is whether councils should be seen to take a position on politically contentious issues, particularly given several Victorian political parties, including the Liberal Party, have pledged to scrap the Treaty process if elected to government.

Supporters of Treaty reject those claims, arguing the process is designed to improve consultation and outcomes for Indigenous communities rather than create unequal rights or override parliamentary democracy.

According to the 2021 Census, Indigenous Australians make up about 0.9 per cent of Wyndham’s population.

Debate around Treaty and Indigenous policy has also previously surfaced locally, with Wyndham City facing criticism in recent years over some reconciliation initiatives and action plans. 

These have been from residents who argued council was focusing too heavily on symbolic or identity-based policies rather than core local government services.

The Wyndham event is open to all ages and free to attend.