After nine years of planning, negotiations, and reviews, Victoria's proposed treaty with First Peoples passed parliament on Thursday 16 October in the face of opposition from the Liberals and Nationals. Victoria is now poised to become the first Australian jurisdiction to legislate a treaty after the lower house passed the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025. Since 2016, Victoria has passed the Advancing the Treaty Process with Aboriginal Victorians Act 2018, held two elections for the First Peoples’ Assembly, and established the Treaty Authority and Yoorrook Justice Commission. Formal negotiations then began in November 2024, with the bill being introduction on 9 September 2025. The milestone legislation formalises a binding agreement between the Victorian Government and First Peoples, establishing the new representative body 'Gellung Warl' and enshrining mechanisms for truth-telling, accountability, and future treaty-making. The coalition opposed the bill and said it would repeal the legislation within 100 days of taking office if elected. In a joint statement from both parties, the opposition said it would instead introduce legislation for the establishment of First Nations Victoria, a body for improving the lives of Indigenous Victorians. The statement said both parties did not believe Treaty was the best way to deliver better outcomes to First Peoples communities. Opposition leader Brad Battin said Labor had failed on closing the gap and that an inclusive and transparent alternative body would help turn that around. “We’re focused on delivering real change in the lives of Indigenous Victorians — not just through policy, but through genuine collaboration and respect for community-led leadership,” Mr Battin said. “First Nations Victoria will work in genuine partnership with aboriginal community-controlled organisations, traditional owners, elders, and local communities to co-design and deliver services that reflect their priorities." In a curious twist, the cabinet member responsible for driving the bill into parliament has decided to quit politics. Minister for Government Services, Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins advised Premier Jacinta Allan on Thursday that she would not seek re-election in 2026. Ms Allan said in a statement that Ms Hutchins had made remarkable contributions across a range of portfolios, including women's affairs, and that the timing of her departure was 'perfect'. "This work began for her in 2014 when she...conducted a listening tour across Victoria and the message was clear: First Peoples were calling for Treaty," Ms Allan said. "Passing legislation to deliver Australia’s first treaty with First Peoples is the perfect way for her to conclude a career focused on fighting for justice." Ruffy barrister Stephen McCredie said the opposition's plans to repeal the legislation 'missed the point'. "Treaty is not designed for improving the lot for Australia's indigenous peoples or to close the gap," Mr McCredie said. "It's purpose is to reach an agreement between the state of Victoria and its surviving indigenous peoples whereby sovereignty is to be formally ceded. "Without such a treaty, the legal basis for sovereignty rests on a horrendous racist lie. "This lie was recognised as such by the High Court in Mabo, that before 1788 the indigenous peoples of Australia were like animals, without social, cultural, or legal norms by which to govern themselves - Treaty removes that stain. "All that the coalition has said is that Treaty is not going to help indigenous people and they may or may not be right about that, but they're missing the point. "It's not a welfare step, it's a legal step." The bill passed with support from the Greens and will be debated in the upper house from Tuesday 28 October.
