The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria endorsed a framework on Friday to start negotiating the ground rules and scope of treaty-making across the state.
Assembly Co-Chair and proud Nira illim bulluk man of the Taungurung nation Marcus Stewart said the historic vote allows formal negotiations with the Victorian government to begin.
“Our communities have taken the position that nothing is off the table,” Mr Stewart said.
“The fight starts with the government for negotiating for treaty and what we see as true self-determination.”
Mr Stewart said community consultations will determine what the key elements of the nation’s first treaty architecture in Victoria will look like.
This will include the Treaty Negotiation Framework, an independent Treaty Authority to facilitate and resolve disputes in the negotiating process, and a Self-Determination Fund to ensure Traditional Owners are on equal footing throughout the process.
“We want to see meaningful outcomes delivered by Traditional Owners,” Mr Stewart said.
“That's Aboriginal Victorians having a say on matters that impact them on policies and legislation that disproportionately impacts our families, our communities, and our most vulnerable.”
The Assembly will be seeking guidance from the community on whether to advocate for seats held by First Nations people in the Victorian Parliament or whether the community should have its own representative body with meaningful decision-making powers.
“Whether we call it a voice, whether it's called a ‘Black Parliament’, ultimately, this will have to form the shape, design and aspiration of our communities that are driving the treaty journey from a grassroots level,” Mr Stewart said.
Once these elements are established by agreement, the Victorian Government will begin its final stage of treaty negotiations with First Peoples.
A spokesperson from the Victorian Government said it wouldn’t be appropriate to comment on the Assembly’s proposals at this stage.
“Though we have said nothing is off the table,” they said.
Ms Stewart said the other significant announcement from Friday’s meeting is the alternative pathways to a reserved seat on the Assembly for Traditional Owners who aren’t represented by a formally recognised group.
First Peoples' Assembly members during their inaugural meeting at The Parliament of Victoria in Melbourne on December 9, 2019. Source: AAP
“What we've heard loud and clear is that we're not going to be defined by policy or legislative government processes that take forever and make our Traditional Owners jump through unnecessary loopholes in order to seek recognition,” Mr Stewart said.
“There’s now an avenue for Traditional Owner nations who want to apply for a reserved seat on the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, and don't want to go through government recognition processes.”
The Assembly will commence developing processes that accommodate for a hybrid model of state-wide and local treaties with Traditional Owners.
“We need to activate and open up the process so Traditional Owners can be at the forefront of decision making and negotiations on treaties that impact their country, their culture, their families and their clans,” Mr Stewart said.
“Now that restrictions are easing in Melbourne, we're back out yarning with our community around what life with treaty looks like, what's the aspiration, what do we have to go in and fight for at the negotiation table to make sure that there's no stone left unturned.
“We've got the eyes of the nation watching us, which is a huge responsibility but we're gonna get this right and we believe we are.”
