The Victorian Coalition has announced plans to repeal Australia's first statewide treaty with First Peoples within 100 days of government, if it wins the 2026 election. Opposition leader Brad Battin and Aboriginal affairs spokesperson Melina Bath outlined the proposal as the lower house began debating the landmark treaty bill.
Bath stated the Coalition does not believe treaty is the best way to deliver outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians. Instead, it would create a new department called First Nations Victoria to report to parliament and oversee Closing the Gap targets. An advisory body within the department would be appointed, not elected, unlike the current First Peoples' Assembly.
Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the plan as divisive, saying it would tear apart over a decade of work by First Peoples. Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell accused the Liberals of sowing division and turning their backs on a historic moment.
First Peoples' Assembly co-chairs Ngarra Murray and Rueben Berg criticised the politicisation of Indigenous policy, with Murray stating: 'The time for paternalistic governments making decisions on behalf of our people ends with this treaty.' Several Liberal MPs broke ranks to applaud their speeches.
The bill is expected to pass with support from the Greens and crossbenchers, making Victoria the first state to implement the three pillars of the Uluru Statement from the Heart: voice, treaty, and truth.
