Victoria passes Australia's first Indigenous treaty establishing permanent representation

Victoria has made history by passing Australia's first formal treaty with its Indigenous peoples, marking a significant milestone in Indigenous relations and recognition. The treaty establishes an elected assembly of Indigenous representatives and supports a truth-telling process to address past injustices, with a focus on improving health, education, housing, and justice outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians. The state's Indigenous representative body, Gellung Warl, will be made permanent with expanded powers, requiring government consultation on laws affecting Aboriginal communities. This landmark legislation follows nearly a decade of activism and builds on the findings of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which provided over 140 recommendations to guide treaty implementation. Indigenous leaders describe the treaty as a moment of hope and a turning point, emphasizing the importance of respecting and celebrating First Peoples' 60,000 years of culture while shaping policies that affect their lives. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan highlighted the treaty as a foundation for a fairer, stronger Victoria and a new era of shared history and healing.