Roadmap towards Victorian treaty negotiations
A roadmap outlining how the long path to treaty in Victoria will stay transparent and listen to the community has been unveiled by The First People's Assembly of Victoria.
The plan comes ahead of the next round of elections to the body between May and June.
The first term of the assembly was dedicated to setting up treaty frameworks, with the next on track to be dominated by formal negotiations with the state government.
The roadmap sets out what actions the newly elected assembly must take before those important discussions begin and follow into the future.
It formally acknowledges measures such as an elders voice and a youth voice, extra pathways for reserved seats on the assembly, more targeted engagement with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and a raft of other consultation measures.
There are no other major bodies vying to negotiate treaty in Victoria but the assembly wants to show it has collective support from the community.
Assembly Co-Chair Marcus Stewart said the assembly takes their role of finding a path to treaty very seriously.
"We've been entrusted by our communities to find a path for the important and long overdue journey towards treaty," Mr Stewart said.
"This statement is the map that will guide the next elected members to complete the journey and get treaty done.
"Treaty will benefit everyone who calls this state home."
The goals of a statewide treaty include creating more jobs, justice reform and improved healthcare and education.
Assembly Co-Chair Aunty Geraldine Atkinson reiterated that upcoming elections provided people with the opportunity to choose who represents them in treaty negotiations.
"We need every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person in this state to register with us and vote to make sure Treaty delivers on our community's dreams and aspirations," she said.
