Victoria's historic First Peoples treaty faces repeal threat in election

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 22:02 · Archive

Victoria's treaty with First Peoples, signed last October, faces potential repeal if the opposition Liberal-National coalition wins the November 28 election.

Victoria's Statewide Treaty Act 2025, signed last October, marked a groundbreaking shift in relations between First Peoples and the Victorian government. It followed negotiations with the First People's Assembly of Victoria at the end of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which exposed mistreatment of Aboriginal people since colonisation. Yoorrook had called for redress through restitution of traditional land, monetary compensation, tax relief or other financial benefits.

Premier Jacinta Allan described the treaty as a 'living partnership with the world's oldest continuing culture', saying it showed that 'ancient systems of law and the modern institutions of our democracy can stand side by side'. However, Opposition Leader Jess Wilson and shadow Aboriginal affairs minister Melina Bath have vowed to scrap the treaty framework and abandon the signed agreement if they win office.

Travis Lovett, deputy chair of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, warned that repealing the treaty would be deeply damaging. 'It would cause a lot of trauma towards First Peoples again if the treaty was abolished,' he said. First Nations advocates have expressed concern that the agreement is being used as a political issue in the election campaign.

How it is being reported

• Election clouds future of historic First Peoples treatyDebate over Australia's first treaty is stoking distress, with First Nations advocates warning it's being used as a political football in election campaigning.Perth Now · 17 Oct, 21:33
• Election clouds future of historic First Peoples treatyDebate over Australia's first treaty is stoking distress, with First Nations advocates warning it's being used as a political football in election campaigning.The West Australian · 17 Oct, 21:33

In this story: Victoria · First Peoples · Jacinta Allan · Jess Wilson · Melina Bath · Travis Lovett · Yoorrook Justice Commission

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