Victoria Enacts Australia's First Treaty with First Nations People

# Victoria Enacts Australia's First Treaty with First Nations People ## Historic Milestone for Indigenous Self-Determination The Australian state of Victoria passed the **Statewide Treaty Bill** on October 30, 2025, establishing the nation's first treaty with First Nations people—a landmark achievement that could inspire national change and provides a model for other jurisdictions. ### Key Provisions **1. Gellung Warl - Democratic Representation** A democratically elected body to: - Represent First Nations communities in Victoria - Advise the state government on laws and policies affecting Indigenous rights - Implement Indigenous-led policies - Give effect to the right to self-determination **2. Rejection of Terra Nullius** The legislation explicitly rejects the colonial doctrine of "land belonging to no one," which denied First Nations land ownership since 1788. This formal rejection acknowledges 60,000 years of First Nations connection to the land. **3. Truth-Telling Mechanisms** Institutions to address historical injustices, including: - The **Yoorrook Justice Commission** - Australia's first formal Indigenous-led truth-telling inquiry - Official recognition that the decimation of First Peoples in Victoria constituted **genocide** - Accountability mechanisms to ensure government upholds commitments to reduce Indigenous disparities ### Context and Significance **Current Disparities:** - First Nations Australians comprise 2.5% of the population but represent 48% of the prison population - They are 12 times more likely to have children removed by authorities **International Obligations:** The treaty aligns with: - International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ### Path Forward UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk praised the treaty as a "historic step toward self-determination," hoping it would inspire other states to adopt similar measures. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan described it as a "new chapter" founded on truth, respect, and partnership. ### What This Means This treaty provides a concrete model for: - Formal recognition of Indigenous sovereignty and rights - Democratic Indigenous representation in government - Truth-telling and accountability for historical injustices - Rejection of colonial legal doctrines **The treaty process began in 2016**, demonstrating that persistent advocacy and negotiation can achieve historic change. **Published:** November 6, 2025 **Source:** Human Rights Watch