“Treaty, yeah? Treaty, how?” – Victoria’s Legal Framework for a Treaty with First Nations Peoples

In August 2018, the Victorian Parliament passed the Advancing the Treaty Process with Aboriginal Victorians Act 2018 (Vic), the purpose of which was to advance the process of Treaty-making between traditional owners and Aboriginal Victorians and the State of Victoria, and to provide statutory recognition of an Aboriginal Representative Body as the sole representative of traditional owners and Aboriginal Victorians for the purpose of establishing elements necessary to support future treaty negotiations.

In 2022, the Victorian Parliament passed the Treaty Authority and Other Treaty Elements Act 2022 (Vic), the purpose of which was to legally recognise and authorise the establishment of a Treaty Authority under a Treaty Authority Agreement. The Treaty Authority is integral to the development of the Treaty Negotiation Framework, which aims to build a new relationship between the State and First Peoples based upon realising the self-determination rights in the United Nation Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

As part of the Bar’s commitment to Reconciliation Week, the Indigenous Justice Committee is proud to invite members of the Bar to attend an insightful and dynamic discussion about the historic and significant legal framework for Treaty-making. This session will explore the guiding statutory principles for the Treaty process and the functions of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and the Treaty Authority. The discussion will feature:

• Rueben Berg, a proud Gunditjmara man and Co-Chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly, who has been integrally involved in the design and negotiation of the Treaty Negotiation Framework, and in taking a leading role in negotiations with the State;

• Jidah Clark, a proud Djab Wurrung Man (with Kirrae Wurrung, Boon Wurrung, Taungurung, Wemba Wemba and Palawa ancestry), the Chair of the Treaty Authority and an experienced lawyer who has worked across the public, private and community sectors.

CHAIR:               

Cal Viney (Indigenous Justice Committee, Victorian Bar)

SPEAKERS:       

Rueben Berg (Co-Chair, First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria), Jidah Clark (Chair of the Treaty Authority)

MODERATOR: 

Serena Armstrong (Co-Chair, Indigenous Justice Committee, Victorian Bar)

VENUE: Koiki Mabo Chambers, 66 Dudley Street

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

This is an in-person attendance only.

QUICK LINKS

The Advancing the Treaty Process with Aboriginal Victorians Act 2018 (Vic) is here.

The Treaty Authority and other Treaty Elements Act 2022 (Vic) is here.

The Annual Report 2022/2023 for the Advancing the Victoria Treaty Process is here.