A new public holiday, and more oversight on Indigenous affairs funding are among the ideas being taken into Victoria’s treaty negotiations next month. The treaty talks will take place between the state's elected aboriginal body and the government the first of their kind in Australia.
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00:00Victoria's Aboriginal community is facing a once-in-a-generation shot at change.
00:08Decisions about First Peoples in the hands of First Peoples, and that's really the crux
00:12of it.
00:13For years, Victoria has been preparing for treaties, agreements the Alan Labor government
00:18and many Indigenous Victorians hope will help right wrongs of the past.
00:23Victoria's colonisation tore Aboriginal languages, cultures and communities apart.
00:28Through treaty, Indigenous groups want to take control of their own healing.
00:34High on the list is Aboriginal communities being able to make more decisions on specific
00:38funding and policies that affect them, instead of the Minister for First Peoples.
00:43We're very, very mindful that if we have an enhanced role that there needs to be enhanced
00:47scrutiny to make sure that we are doing the things that we intend to be doing.
00:51Other ideas the Assembly plans to raise in negotiations include the wider use of Aboriginal
00:56languages in place names and schools, and earlier access to seniors cards for elders
01:02who face a shorter average life expectancy than non-Indigenous Australians.
01:07There's also the suggestion of a new public holiday in Victoria, which could mark the
01:11day a treaty is signed.
01:14Treaty's not just about our people, it's about all peoples that live here on our country.
01:18The Assembly and government expect there'll be several treaty agreements, including local
01:23ones to address the needs of different nation groups.
01:26But nothing about Victoria's path to treaty is guaranteed.
01:30In the wake of the failed voice referendum, the state opposition withdrew its support
01:34for the process, and Victorians will head to the polls in 2026.
01:39I've made our position on treaty clear that we won't be supporting that because we have
01:43a different approach that focuses on practical reconciliation.
01:46Proper self-determination is identified internationally as a right for First Peoples, and we through
01:53the treaty process have an opportunity to change.
01:57Negotiations are due to begin before the end of the year.