Australia's first formal treaty with Indigenous traditional owners passed in Victoria

"This is a historic moment for our people, Ngarra said after the vote. We will tell our children about today, and they will tell their children, passing down to future generations the story of how decades of Aboriginal resilience and activism led to Australia's first treaty. Treaty marks the beginning of a new era, one where First Peoples' 60,000 years of knowledge and culture is respected and celebrated. It's an opportunity for all Victorians to acknowledge our shared history, heal and move forward together."

"Berg said treaty recognises that Aboriginal people are the experts on their own lives. Through treaty, we will have the ability to use our expertise to come up with and deliver practical solutions for our local communities, in areas like health, education, housing and justice, he said. This will mean better outcomes for our people as we know what does and doesn't work for us."

The Victorian upper house passed a statewide treaty bill 21 votes to 16 after two days of debate. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags were unfurled in the public gallery as First Peoples' Assembly co-chairs and elders observed the vote. The moment is framed as a historic milestone reflecting decades of Aboriginal resilience and activism and marking the start of an era that respects and celebrates 60,000 years of First Peoples' knowledge and culture. The treaty enables Aboriginal communities to use their expertise to design and deliver practical local solutions across health, education, housing and justice. The legislation culminates nearly ten years of state work since 2016 and aims to give communities power to shape policies and services for a fairer Victoria.

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