Victoria Signs Historic Treaty with Indigenous Peoples

Published: 13 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Australia’s Victoria state on Thursday took a historic step toward reconciliation by signing a treaty with its Indigenous people, granting the first inhabitants greater oversight over decisions affecting their communities.

The landmark treaty, signed by Premier Jacinta Allan in Melbourne, delivers a formal apology to the First Nations people and establishes a permanent representative body to advise the Victorian government on Indigenous affairs.

Scheduled to take effect on 12 December, the treaty marks what Ms Allan described as “a new chapter in the story of our state.” Speaking at the signing ceremony, she said, “Today is a recognition that ancient systems of law and the modern institutions of our democracy can stand side-by-side.”

She added: “When people have a real say over the things that impact their lives—their healthcare, housing, education, and the practice of their culture—their outcomes are improved and our state is made fairer.”

Australia has historically lagged behind other colonised nations in formal reconciliation with its Indigenous populations. Unlike the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, Australia had never signed a treaty in more than two centuries. Its roughly one million Indigenous citizens continue to experience outcomes well below national averages across most socioeconomic measures.

Mick Gooda, a Yiman and Ghangulu man and advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights, welcomed the treaty. “I’m so happy and pleased,” he told ABC News. “Finally, the government’s taken notice of what Aboriginal people need to move forward, and they have done it. The world hasn’t changed that much, and all it means is that Aboriginal people have been recognised in Victoria. That’s a lesson for the rest of Australia.”

The treaty comes after a national referendum in 2023 aimed at enshrining an Indigenous advisory body in the Australian Constitution was rejected by 60 per cent of voters, including all six states—a setback for nationwide reconciliation efforts.

Discussions to establish a treaty in Victoria began in 2016, culminating in the passage of the treaty bill by the state parliament last month. The treaty requires a formal apology from the government for historical injustices and establishes the First Peoples’ Assembly, a body tasked with advising the government on laws and policies affecting Indigenous communities. While the assembly will not hold veto power, it will serve as a key platform for Indigenous voices in decision-making.

“It is not about dwelling in the past, nor laying blame. It is about acknowledging that the past still shapes the present and choosing to do better from here,” the treaty states.

In addition, the agreement establishes a “truth-telling” body and an accountability panel to ensure the government meets its commitments to Indigenous people.

Victoria First Peoples’ Assembly co-chair Ngarra Murray described the treaty as a “turning point in our nation’s history. A moment where old wounds can begin to heal and new relationships can be built on truth, justice, and mutual respect.”

Co-chair Rueben Berg added, “It makes us all a better state, a better country, better people.”

The treaty represents a milestone in Australia’s long journey toward reconciliation, giving Indigenous Victorians a formal voice in shaping the laws and policies that affect their communities, while offering a model that may influence future initiatives across the country.