It has been suggested that this article be merged into Statewide Treaty Act 2025. (Discuss) Proposed since December 2025.

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Statewide Treaty" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Statewide Treaty (Victoria)

Statewide Treaty between the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria Ltd and the State of Victoria
The Statewide Treaty for Victoria
Type	Treaty
Drafted	2024–2025
Signed	13 November 2025
Location	Government House, Melbourne
Effective	12 December 2025
Condition	Ceremonial commencement following Royal Assent of the Statewide Treaty Act 2025
Signatories	Jacinta Allan (Premier) Natalie Hutchins (Minister for Treaty and First Peoples) Ngarra Murray (Co-chair) Rueben Berg (Co-chair)
Parties	State of Victoria First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria
Language	English, with terms in Gunaikurnai, Wadi Wadi, and others

The Statewide Treaty (often referred to as the Treaty for Victoria) is a binding agreement between the State of Victoria and the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria. Signed on 13 November 2025, it is the first treaty negotiated between an Australian government and First Peoples.^[1] The agreement establishes a permanent "First Peoples' Representative Body" known as Gellung Warl and sets the framework for future local treaties with Traditional Owners.^[2][3]

The treaty is supported legislatively by the Statewide Treaty Act 2025 (Vic), which received Royal Assent on the same day the treaty was signed.^[4]

Victoria began the process of establishing a treaty with First Peoples in early 2016. The process was formalised through the Advancing the Treaty Process with Aboriginal Victorians Act 2018, which established the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria (the Assembly) as the democratically elected representative body for negotiations.^[1][5] The treaty was preceded by an extensive truthtelling process under the Yoorrook Justice Commission.^[6][7]

Negotiations for the treaty officially commenced in late 2024. The Statewide Treaty Bill was passed by the Victorian Parliament on 30 October 2025.^[1] It received Royal Assent on 13 November 2025, the same day the treaty was formally signed by the premier and Assembly co-chairs at Government House.^[4]

The treaty formally commenced on 12 December 2025, following a ceremonial event and performances at John Cain Arena.^[2][8] The ceremonial treaty signed on the day is made of kangaroo skin and the leaders used ochre to sign the treaty with their handprints.^[9]

The treaty establishes or formally recognises three key institutions to oversee the relationship between the state and First Peoples.^[10]

The treaty establishes Gellung Warl (meaning "Tip of the Spear" in Gunaikurnai)^[11] as the "First Peoples' representative and deliberative body".^[12][13] Evolved from the First Peoples' Assembly, Gellung Warl is responsible for:

• Representing First Peoples in ongoing negotiations.
• Making decisions regarding First Peoples.
• Providing advice to the Victorian Parliament and State government.
• Administering a "First Peoples' Infrastructure Fund".

Nginma Ngainga Wara (meaning "you will do" in Wadi Wadi)^[14] is established as an independent oversight and accountability mechanism.^[12] It functions as an arm of Gellung Warl and is tasked with monitoring government systems to address the disadvantage experienced by First Peoples. Its establishment fulfills the State's commitment under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap to create an independent accountability mechanism.

Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna is a permanent truth-telling body.^[12] It continues the work of the Yoorrook Justice Commission by receiving testimony and maintaining the public record regarding the impact of colonisation.^{[citation needed]}

Schedule B of the treaty outlines specific "Immediate Statewide Treaty Reforms" to be implemented by the State and Gellung Warl.^[1][15][16]

Gellung Warl will have a permanent room in Parliament House for its use. The Australian Aboriginal Flag and Torres Strait Islander Flag will be flown on all Victorian Government buildings with three or more flagpoles. A "Joint Ceremony and Event Protocol" will be co-designed to increase the participation of First Peoples' culture and ceremony in State events.^{[citation needed]}

The treaty mandates the inclusion of truth-telling in the Victorian Curriculum (Foundation to Year 10). The official public record of the Yoorrook Justice Commission will be used as a primary resource for this curriculum.^{[citation needed]}

Gellung Warl is designated as a "naming authority" for specified geographic features, including National Parks, State parks, waterways, and waterfalls. Gellung Warl may propose that these features be known exclusively by a First Peoples' language name or carry a dual name.^{[citation needed]}

From 1 July 2026, Gellung Warl will operate a First Peoples' Infrastructure Fund. This fund will support Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) with capital works and upgrades, superseding the State's previous Aboriginal Community Infrastructure Program (ACIP).^{[citation needed]}

The document was signed on 13 November 2025 by representatives of the State of Victoria and the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria.^[4]

For the State of Victoria:

• Jacinta Allan, Premier of Victoria
• Natalie Hutchins, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples

For the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria:

• Ngarra Murray, Co-chair
• Rueben Berg, Co-chair
• Various Members and Reserved Seat holders representing Traditional Owner corporations.

The First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria celebrated the treaty as a victory for self-determination. However, Independent senator Lidia Thorpe argued that the treaty did not reflect the "free, prior and informed consent" of all 38 language groups in Victoria.^[17] Thorpe criticised the model for integrating into "colonial government systems" rather than delivering full sovereign independence.^[17]

The conservative think tank IPA (Institute of Public Affairs) has called the treaty an "affront to equality and democracy".^[18] Conversely, legal experts at Allens and Melbourne Law School noted the treaty's significance as the first of its kind in Australia, providing a "practical framework" for addressing systemic disadvantage.^[10][19] The Federation of Community Legal Centres and the Victorian Legal Services Board issued statements describing the treaty as a "necessary reset" of the justice system.^[20][21] Nationally, Reconciliation Australia praised the legislation as a precedent for other states, noting that "governments must learn and act on this truth" to close the gap.^[22]

The Labor Government and the Victorian Greens supported the legislation, with party leader Ellen Sandell describing the passing of the bill as a "historic moment" that invites all Victorians to walk with First Peoples.^[23] The Victorian Liberal-National Coalition has pledged to dissolve the treaty if elected in the future.^{[citation needed]} The treaty received broad endorsement from the Victorian legal and business sectors.^{[citation needed]}

• Indigenous treaties in Australia
• Treaty of Waitangi
• Batman's Treaty
• Uluru Statement from the Heart
• Indigenous Voice to Parliament
• Yirrkala bark petitions
• Indigenous Australian self-determination
• Australian Indigenous advisory bodies

• Full text of the Statewide Treaty (Victoria) (Official PDF)
• Statewide Treaty Act 2025 (Vic)
• First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria