EARTHCHAT: Victoria’s Historic Statewide Treaty's Future

Listen at noon, Tuesday 10 November on SeymourFM

NE Members of the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria, now under the new statutory body, ‘Gellung Warl’, join Ruth and Phil.

Members for the North East of Victoria are Belinda Briggs, Yorta Yorta, Wamba Wamba, Ngiyampaa, (Nyampa) Wurundjeri; Isobel Morphy-Walsh, Dhaung Wurrung (Taungurung), a reserve member; Jarvis Atkinson, Yorta Yorta; Levi Power, Yorta Yorta; and reserve member, Travis Morgan, Yorta Yorta, Wamba Wamba.

The North East region is a vast geographical area stretching from the edge of Naarm’s (Melbourne), outer northern fringe all the way to the southern borders of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

We’re excited to hear from the NE Members about what they’ve managed to achieve and set in train during their first year since Victoria’s Statewide Treaty was signed and legislated. Having spent the first six months meeting the 2025 (Vic) Treaty Act’s requirements, ’Gellung Warl’ was established as the statutory body corporate with perpetual succession.

As Victorians head to an election on November 28, the State’s Opposition, some political parties are now seeking to dismantle the Statewide Treaty, if elected. However, constitutional and legal commentators—as well as figures like the chair of the Treaty Authority—have argued that while a government can repeal the enabling statutes, funding, and statutory architecture (such as Gellung Warl and the Treaty Authority), the underlying covenant and cultural agreement entered into with First Nations under Aboriginal law cannot be simply or unilaterally erased by one party.

Leaders: The incumbent Victorian government, the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, and Indigenous leaders (such as former Treaty Advancement Commissioner Aunty Jill Gallagher) argue that dismantling the framework would set back decades of reconciliation and self-determination. They maintain that the treaty represents a contract with First Peoples that transcends changing parliamentary cycles.

When Treaty at last was legislated in Australia a year ago in Victoria, it was welcomed by the United Nations Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, who described Victoria's agreement as a "very significant moment for all Australians”. “It represents a major step toward justice and equality. It addresses the continued exclusion of and discrimination against the country's First Peoples - the result of colonisation," he said. "I hope this inspires other leaders in Australia and beyond to adopt similar measures to recognise Indigenous peoples through inclusive governance and innovative mechanisms for participation and reconciliation - all of which ultimately promote a society built on mutual respect and human rights for all."

We need to remember that Treaty is about meaningful change. Treaty is about resetting the relationship between First Nations people and the State, a new relationship built on mutual trust and respect. Many people living in other Commonwealth countries with Treaties say that they unify the country, and allow for greater respect and awareness of each other’s culture enabling greater equity and social justice.

For more information about at the North East Members: gellungwarl.org/regions/north-east/ and lots of useful information about Treaty : gellungwarl.org,

For easy and useful ways you can support Treaty leading up to this year’s November 28 Victorian Election, including petitions and letters, go to these sites:

-     Friends of the Earth Melbourne offers practical ways Victorians can get involved in the lead up to the next State Election. They also have ‘Together for Treaty’ core flutes in their 312 Smith Street, Collingwood office should you wish to hang one on your front fence or balcony. melbournefoe.org.au/vic_election_2026

-     Common Threads is a new First Nations let organization doing fantastic work raising awareness and offering trainings to harness the power of First Nations leadership, advocacy, and change-making to win transformative change. They invite us to sign a petition to drop plans to dismantle Victoria’s treaty should they get into power at this next State election. togetherfortreaty.org.au/#sign-petition

-     No Room for Racism Campaign was launched on the first weekend in October this year calling for an end to Racism and the end to racism and division in Victorian politics. The launch marks the beginning of a statewide campaign led in collaboration by Common Threads commonthreads.org.au and Democracy in Colour https://democracyincolour.org in the lead-up to the Victorian elections. 

-     GetUp is currently training people in having conversations with people we struggle to find something in common with, especially people who sit on the ‘far right’ of life in general. GetUp offers a guide with practical tools for talking to people about the upcoming Victorian Election reminding us of the values to bring to the conversation like Fairness, Honesty, Agency and Care. They offer ways to handle objections and provide a link to resources that help prepare for such conversations. You can find the Guide by googling: getup.to/convo-guide 

Thanks to Narida Miller for her photograph of the five North East Representatives in the Seymour FM Studio on November 5 this year, along with host, Ruth Yeatman and co-host, Phil Bourne. All on this week's EarthChat. Tune in on Tuesday, 10 November.

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