Changes for the better pledged in landmark treaty
WHAT IS TREATY?
* Victoria's treaty is the first of its kind struck between an Australian state government and Aboriginal people
* The legislation passed in parliament on Thursday night, aiming to improve justice, health, education and cultural recognition for Aboriginal communities
HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT?
* The Victorian Labor government committed to discussing treaties with Aboriginal Victorians in early 2016
* Ten months of negotiations between the government and First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria resulted in an in-principle agreement
WHAT WILL VICTORIA'S STATEWIDE TREATY DO?
* Establishes Gellung Warl, which means "tip of the spear" or "pointed spear" in Gunaikurnai language
* Grants the democratically elected body, which will continue to be known as the assembly, decision-making powers on relevant initiatives and services
* Mandates government also consults with it on laws and policies affecting Aboriginal Victorians
* Embeds truth-telling in Victoria's public school curriculum up to year 10
* Continues truth-telling in Victorian towns and regions following the conclusion of the Yoorrook Justice Commission
* Sets up a process for renaming parks, waterways and other geographic features that have names considered offensive to Aboriginal people
* Grants the body a dedicated room within state parliament
* Commits to the delivery of a formal apology in the state parliament to Aboriginal people
* Creates a new infrastructure fund for Aboriginal-led community groups, operated by the body
* Agrees treaty will be reviewed by an independent panel every five years
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
* Just over $300 million from 2020 to 2028
WHAT TREATY DOES NOT INCLUDE:
* Treaty will not change the Victorian or commonwealth constitution
* The legislation will not establish a third chamber of parliament in the legislative chamber or a house of Victoria's parliament
* It does not affect tax laws or provide individual financial reparations
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF TREATY IN AUSTRALIA?
* Australia is one of the only commonwealth countries without a treaty with its Indigenous people
* The June 1988 Barunga Statement called for Aboriginal self-management, a national system of land rights, compensation for loss of lands, respect for Aboriginal identity and the granting of full civil, economic, social and cultural rights
* Labor prime minister Bob Hawke wanted to conclude a treaty by 1990 but it did not happen
* The Native Title Act 1993 and several state-based agreements cover some of the same ground as a treaty
* Treaty was one of the three pillars of the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017, along with voice and truth
* A referendum to constitutionally recognise Indigenous people through a voice to federal parliament was resoundingly defeated in 2023
* Victoria recorded the highest 'yes' vote of any state, at 45.85 per cent, in the referendum
STATE AND TERRITORY MOVES ON VOICE, TRUTH AND TREATY:
* The ACT was the first Australian jurisdiction with an elected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to parliament and committed to starting treaty conversations in a long-term agreement
* South Australia was the first Australian state to legislate an elected voice to parliament but time is running out to restart treaty discussions this term
* The former Queensland Labor government introduced the Path to Treaty Bill in 2023 before it was repealed by the current Liberal government in November 2024
* The Tasmanian government has dropped its treaty process to prioritise truth-telling
* A NSW independent commission is consulting Aboriginal people for 12 months from August 2025 on their desire for a treaty process
* The Northern Territory's Country Liberal Party has discontinued the treaty process established by the former Labor government in 2018
* WA has no plans for a statewide voice, treaty or truth process
