The Australian state of Victoria on Thursday enacted the country’s first-ever treaty with Indigenous peoples, a milestone hailed by advocates as a major step toward reconciliation. The treaty grants Australia’s First Nations more oversight over decisions that affect them.
Set to take effect on December 12, the treaty includes a formal apology to Indigenous Australians and establishes a permanent representative body to advise the Victorian government.
“Today marks a new chapter in the story of our state,” Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said at a signing ceremony in Melbourne. “When people have a real say over the things that impact their lives — healthcare, housing, education, and the practice of their culture — outcomes improve, and our state becomes fairer.”
Australia has historically lagged behind other colonised nations such as the U.S., Canada, and New Zealand in formal reconciliation efforts, never having signed a treaty with its Indigenous peoples. Its roughly one million Indigenous citizens continue to trail national averages across most socio-economic measures. A 2023 national referendum to enshrine an Indigenous advisory body in the constitution was rejected by 60% of voters and all six states, representing a further setback for reconciliation.
Legal expert Harry Hobbs, a law professor at the University of New South Wales, said Victoria’s treaty is a landmark in recognising First Nations’ rights to self-determination. “It’s a moment that will influence treaty discussions across the country,” he said.
Discussions on a Victorian treaty began in 2016, and the state parliament passed the bill last month. The law requires a formal government apology for historical injustices and establishes the First Peoples’ Assembly, which will advise the government on laws and policies affecting Indigenous people, though it will not have veto powers.
The treaty also sets up a truth-telling body and an accountability body to ensure that the government upholds its commitments to Indigenous communities.
“This makes us all a better state, a better country, better people,” said Rueben Berg, co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly.
