The Australian state of Victoria on Thursday signed the country’s first modern treaty with Aboriginal people, a move described by advocates as a significant step toward reconciliation and greater Indigenous participation in policymaking. The agreement, which comes into effect on December 12, includes a formal apology to Australia’s First Nations communities and establishes a permanent representative body to advise the Victorian government.
Victoria’s move marks the first such agreement in Australia, a development the United Nations human rights chief called “historic.” “Today marks a new chapter in the story of our state,” Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said at the signing ceremony in Melbourne.
Unlike countries such as the United States, Canada and New Zealand, Australia has never signed a treaty with its Indigenous peoples. Its roughly one million First Nations citizens continue to fall below national averages on most socio-economic indicators. A 2023 referendum to embed an Indigenous advisory body in the constitution was rejected by 60% of voters and all six states, dealing a setback to national reconciliation efforts.
Harry Hobbs, a law professor at the University of New South Wales, said Victoria’s treaty represented a major step toward recognising First Nations’ rights to self-determination. “It’s a moment that will influence treaty discussions across the country,” he said.
Talks on a Victorian treaty began in 2016, with enabling legislation passed by the state parliament last month. The agreement mandates a formal apology from the government for historical injustices and establishes the First Peoples’ Assembly to advise on laws and policies affecting Indigenous communities. The body, however, will not have veto powers.
The treaty also includes a “truth-telling” commission and an accountability body to ensure commitments made to Indigenous people are upheld. “This makes us all a better state, a better country, better people,” said Rueben Berg, co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly.
(With inputs from Reuters)
