Victoria is a step closer to becoming the first Australian state to negotiate a treaty with its first peoples.
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But Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation’s Trent Nelson said the region’s traditional owners would not be rushing into negotiations, if the legislation came to fruition.
“Treaty is definitely something that is in our mind,” Mr Nelson said.
“It is a priority that will happen down the track.
“But we, as a people, will need to come together and talk to our clan groups and make sure that our clan groups and our family groups are all in the one mindset before we actually go and make any discussions with government.”
The state government’s proposed treaty legislation passed the Legislative Assembly this evening.
The Legislative Council is expected to consider the bill in the coming weeks.
If it passes both houses of parliament, the legislation will see the state government enter into formal treaty negotiations with Aboriginal Victorians.
“It's definitely something we need to sit down and talk about with our people to see how they feel, especially our elders,” Mr Nelson said.
“Wherever it takes us, we need to make sure that our elders and our community are behind us in these decisions, and there's no irrational decisions made with government.”
More than 7000 Aboriginal Victorians have contributed to the Advancing the Treaty Process with Aboriginal Victorians Bill 2018, which sets out the framework for negotiations between the state and Aboriginal Victorians.
The government describes treaty as ‘an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the unique status, rights, cultures and histories of Aboriginal Victorians,’ and, ‘to address wrongs and redefine relationships between government and community.’