Melbourne: Australia's southeastern state of Victoria formalized the country's first modern treaty with Indigenous Australians, marking a major shift in state-level engagement with Aboriginal communities. The legally binding treaty grants Aboriginal groups greater authority and control over their governance. It was signed by the co-chairs of Victoria's elected First Peoples Assembly, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, and Minister for Treaty Natalie Hutchins.
According to Anadolu Agency, the treaty acknowledges Indigenous people's authority to self-determine their affairs and make Treaties in accordance with Aboriginal Lore and Law, as recognized in international law. Legislation underpinning the treaty, passed by Victoria's parliament last month, was also signed by the state's governor, making it law.
Governor Margaret Gardner described the signing as the first statewide treaty for Victoria, the first in Australia, and the first for First Peoples in Victoria. Premier Allan expressed that the moment brings together the oldest continuing cultures on earth with the more modern institutions of the state.
The 34-page treaty outlines agreements reached between the state government and the First Peoples' Assembly, an elected body representing Aboriginal Victorians, after months of negotiations. The document acknowledges that the land was never empty or unclaimed, contradicting the historical narrative of 'land belonging to no one.'
The treaty notes that within two decades of colonization, the population of First Peoples in Victoria had reduced by nearly 90 percent. It emphasizes the significance of the government admitting past wrongs and committing to making them right, highlighting the transformative potential of this agreement.