Australia’s first treaty with Aboriginal people was signed and formalised as law on November 13 in Victoria.
This treaty is the first modern treaty agreement with the nation’s Indigenous owners.
Yiman and Ghangulu man Mick Gooda, a proud advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, shared: “Finally the government’s taken notice of what Aboriginal people need to move forward and they’ve done it.”
The treaty is a long-time coming given various other countries that were colonised then implemented treaties many years ago. Such countries include Canada, New Zealand, and the United States.
This treaty took almost a decade. So, what does this mean for the other Australian states? We discuss more about the treaty below.
Will the other Australian states implement a treaty?
With the new treaty underway, many Australians have begun to wonder if an agreement will be made with the other five states.
It’s revealed there are commitments to implement a treaty in New South Wales and South Australia. However, any treaties for Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania have been stalled or repealed.
What is the Victorian treaty?
This 2025 treaty is an agreement between the state government and the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. It is designed to formalise the path forward for Indigenous communities, ensuring they are properly represented when making laws, rules or policies impacting them.
““Treaty recognises that Aboriginal people are the experts when it comes to our Country, culture and communities – and makes sure we can use our local knowledge to come up with and deliver practical solutions to improve health, education and housing outcomes for our communities,” Ngarra Murray said via the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria website.
Could the treaty be abolished in Victoria?
The treaty in Victoria was supported by the Labor government. Meanwhile, the Liberal opposition pledged to scrap the treaty provided they win the 2026 state election.
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