Victorian Liberals to End Statewide Treaty if Elected

Victorian Liberals Plan to Scrap First Formal Treaty with First Peoples

The Victorian Liberal Party has announced its intention to abolish Australia's first formal treaty agreement with Indigenous peoples if elected. This decision was made during a recent shadow cabinet meeting, and the opposition has committed to introducing legislation to repeal the treaty within the first 100 days of a potential state Liberal government.

Although the opposition had already withdrawn its support for the treaty process and stated it would not back the proposed bill, it had not previously outlined a plan to reverse the treaty until now. The legislation that forms the basis of the treaty is set to be debated in Parliament today.

Despite the opposition from the Liberal Party, the agreement between the government and First Peoples is expected to proceed with the backing of the Greens and Labor. It is anticipated that the treaty will be signed before the end of the year.

New Approach: Establishing a Government Department

In a statement, the Liberal Party argued that the treaty was not the most effective way to improve outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians. Instead, they plan to create a new government department called "First Nations Victoria." This department will report directly to Parliament and oversee progress on Closing the Gap targets.

Melina Bath, the Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, explained that the Liberals would establish their own First Nations advisory body, separate from the existing First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria. This assembly is an elected Aboriginal body that is proposed to be made permanent under the treaty and given additional powers.

"We are happy and willing to always listen to leaders in our community, in our Aboriginal communities, but this policy will be about across the board, listening to all voices, not just the First Peoples' Assembly," she said.

The Liberals claim that their new department will focus on service delivery and outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians in regional areas. Opposition leader Brad Battin described the plan as a "positive plan."

"There's a big difference from running an advisory group, to having an elected group come into the Parliament and operate effectively as another level of government," he said.

Premier Criticizes the Move

Premier Jacinta Allan criticized the announcement, calling it divisive. She stated that the opposition's priority would not be to build the future but to tear down what has been worked on for decades.

"They've said to the Victorian community, that their first priority if they should have the privilege of holding government is not to build the future it's to tear it down," she said.

"Tear down something that has been worked on not just for the last ten years that we have been working on this, but for decades."

Background on the Proposed Treaty

The proposed treaty with First Peoples in Victoria follows generations of advocacy by Indigenous communities in Victoria and across Australia. It was initiated by the Labor Party through a consultation, planning, and negotiation process that began in 2016.

Under the planned agreement, the existing First Peoples' Assembly, an elected body representing Aboriginal Victorians, would be made permanent and granted new powers to question ministers and make decisions on specific matters affecting Aboriginal people. It would also establish and control new accountability and truth-telling bodies but would not have veto powers over government decisions.

Earlier in the day, Premier Jacinta Allan attended a smoking ceremony on the steps of Parliament House ahead of the treaty debate. Uncle Andrew Gardiner, a Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung elder and representative on the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, addressed the crowd.

"We trust you to do the right thing for us, as we are Victorians too," he said.

Greens Respond to the Announcement

In a statement, Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell expressed her disappointment with the Liberals' position on repealing the treaty. She called the move deeply disrespectful and highlighted the long-standing efforts of Aboriginal Victorians in pursuing the treaty.

"It's deeply disrespectful that the Liberals have turned their backs on this history-making moment and on Aboriginal Victorians who have been working for years on Treaty," she said.

"To use this historic and proud moment to sow division is a new low, even for the Liberals. The Liberals have been a hopeless opposition, and the fact that their only plan for Victoria is to drag us backwards shows just how unfit for government they are."