Final vote on independent umpire for Treaty negotiations this week

By Caitlyn Grant

Aug 15, 2022

Treaty: Co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, Bangerang and Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Geraldine Atkinson, at Victorian Parliament.

The establishment of the first independent umpire in Australia to oversee Treaty negotiations could become law this week.

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The Victorian Parliament’s upper house is expected to vote on the Treaty Authority legislation on Tuesday, August 16.

Following the bill having passed the lower house in June, the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria is expecting the legislation to pass without rebuttal, with the support of the Labor, Liberal and Greens parties.

An independent umpire would oversee Treaty negotiations outside traditional bureaucratic structures. It is designed to be led by First Nations people and steeped in Traditional Owners’ culture, law and lore.

Assembly co-chair and proud Nira illim bulluk man of the Taungurung Nation Marcus Stewart said the journey to Treaty must not be constrained by colonial systems.

“It’s time to do things differently, enough of the top-down government approach,” he said.

“Treaty is about putting First Peoples in the driver’s seat so we can make the decisions that affect our communities, our Culture and our Country.

“The Assembly, as the democratic voice for mob in Victoria, has spoken, and to the politicians’ credit, they’ve listened.

“They’ve been willing to make some space and to concede some power. This is what decolonisation looks like.”

The Assembly’s next step towards Treaty includes creating the ‘Treaty Negotiation Framework’, which will set the ground rules and process for Treaty negotiations.

The Assembly hopes the agreement can be reached with government in the coming months.