Victorian Parliament Makes History, Passes First Nations Treaty Legislation

Historic Legislation Passed in Victoria

The Victorian Parliament has made a landmark decision, passing the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025, which paves the way for Australia's first formal treaty with its First Nations peoples. The legislation successfully passed the Legislative Council on October 30, 2025, following its passage through the Legislative Assembly on October 16, 2025. This makes Victoria the first jurisdiction in Australia to enact such treaty legislation, marking a significant moment in the nation's history towards reconciliation and self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

A New Era of Self-Determination and Accountability

The newly passed legislation formalises a binding agreement between the Victorian Government and First Peoples. It establishes a new Aboriginal-led body named Gellung Warl (from the Gunaikurnai language), which will evolve from the existing First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria. Gellung Warl is designed to operate as an ongoing democratic, representative, and deliberative body for First Peoples in Victoria. It will comprise three distinct arms, focusing on decision-making, truth-telling (Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna), and accountability (Nginma Ngainga Wara), ensuring that First Peoples have the power to shape policies and services affecting their lives. Premier Jacinta Allan stated, 'Treaty gives Aboriginal communities the power to shape the policies and services that affect their lives,' and 'This is how we build a fairer, stronger Victoria for everyone.'

The Journey Towards Truth and Treaty

The passage of this Bill is the culmination of a decade-long journey towards truth and treaty in Victoria. A crucial component of this process has been the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, an independent and democratically elected body representing Traditional Owners and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Inaugurated in December 2019, the Assembly has been instrumental in establishing the framework for treaty negotiations and was formally recognised as a permanent authority in October 2025. Complementing the treaty efforts is the Yoorrook Justice Commission, Australia's first formal truth-telling inquiry, established in May 2021. Named after the Wemba Wemba/Wamba Wamba word for 'truth,' the Commission investigated historical and ongoing injustices against First Peoples, with its final reports, including 'Yoorrook Truth be Told,' tabled in Parliament on July 1, 2025. First Peoples' Assembly Co-Chair Ngarra Murray highlighted the significance, saying, 'This is a historic moment for our people. We will tell our children about today, and they will tell their children - passing down the story of how decades of Aboriginal resilience and activism led to Australia's first Treaty.'

Next Steps: Royal Assent and Ceremonial Commencement

Following its parliamentary passage, the Statewide Treaty Bill will now proceed to receive Royal Assent from the Governor in the coming weeks. A public ceremonial exchange between the Victorian Government and the First Peoples' Assembly is scheduled to mark the commencement of the Treaty Agreement. This significant event is planned for Friday, December 12, 2025, at Federation Square in Melbourne. Assembly Co-Chair Rueben Berg emphasised the practical benefits, stating, 'Through Treaty, we'll be able to use our own expertise to deliver real outcomes in areas like health, education, housing and justice - because we know what does and doesn't work for us.'