The Indigenous Australians Minister has congratulated Aboriginal groups and the Victorian government for the historic step forward for treaty-making in the state.
The Victorian government introduced the Statewide Treaty Bill to parliament on Tuesday - the first time treaty legislation has ever been entered into a parliament in Australian history.
It came after the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria and the state government reached an agreement on the terms for treaty, following a year of formal negotiations.
In a statement to social media, Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said it was a major step forward.
"The introduction of the Treaty Bill is the culmination of generations of work," she wrote.
"Congratulations to all involved in bringing this bill to the parliament."
While Senator McCarthy praised the process in Victoria, the federal government has been tight-lipped on progress towards treaty and truth-telling at a Commonwealth level.
The Albanese Government has said its focus has been on economically empowering Indigenous communities since the defeat of the Voice to Parliament Referendum in 2023, with Senator McCarthy saying she is keeping a close eye on treaty and truth-telling initiatives in the states and territories.
Treaty isn't the start or the end of a process. It's a mutual coming together and recognition of respect.Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy
The Federal Government has so far avoided ruling in or out further action on treaty or truth-telling, however Senator McCarthy said in July it was time to "consider" the steps necessary for the latter.
Coalition argues questions remain
Shadow Indigenous Australians Minister Kerrynne Liddle acknowledged state and local treaty-making was a matter for the Victorian Government.
However, she said the Coalition wanted more detail on how the agreements would operate.
"The Coalition waits to learn how the Victorian treaty will intersect with other state treaties and how the treaty will operate for language groups that cross state borders," Senator Liddle said.
"The Allan Labor Government must also explain how the treaty will interact with existing native title legislation which already includes rights and benefits, and who will pay for it."
Senator Liddle also accused the Federal Government of talking "in riddles" around treaty and truth-telling.
"The PM needs to come clean about what he intends to bind future generations to and why, as Closing the Gap targets continue to worsen under his government, announcements are his focus rather than immediate, impactful action," she said.
Thorpe calls for national treaty
Independent Victorian Senator Lidia Thorpe congratulated the First Peoples' Assembly on the treaty milestone, but warned it was crucial to achieve real outcomes from the process.
Unless treaty addresses the ongoing Genocide on our people, it will have failed.Victorian Senator Lidia Thorpe
She tentatively welcomed news that a truth-telling and healing body, and an outcomes and justice commission would be created under the treaty.
"The proposed bodies to be established through the Treaty Bill sound good on paper, but we are yet to see how they will address our daily realities: our children being taken away, our people being jailed and dying in custody, so many of our people dying too young or taking their lives," Senator Thorpe said.
Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe congratulated the Assembly on the treaty bill. Source: AAP / AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
Senator Thorpe also argued that if the treaty process did not address the theft of land and destruction of sacred sites, then it would leave future generations with nothing.
"Treaty, therefore, has to tackle the damage caused by the current Cultural Heritage Act and Traditional Owners Settlement Act head on, in an inclusive way," she said.
She added that a treaty and truth-telling was needed at a national level, and urged the Federal Government to begin laying the ground work for a process.
"While there’s a lot of work to do to get there, the Albanese government should start the process by establishing a federal truth telling body, which will lay the groundwork for treaty at the national level as Yoorook did in Victoria," Senator Thorpe said.
