A BENDIGO office is a possibility for the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria as it looks to expand its regional footprint after being promised $20 million funding.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tuesday's state budget announced the funding to continue the work of the First Peoples' Assembly and advance the treaty process between Aboriginal Victorians and the government.
Elected in 2019, the assembly's role is to create the framework for treaty negotiation between Aboriginal people and government.
Leaders say the milestone funding will mean treaty-making in Victoria sooner.
North West Assembly member Raylene Harradine said the funding would make a huge difference, meaning the organisation could better regionalise its work.
Ms Harradine is also the chief executive of Bendigo Aboriginal District Cooperative.
"Hopefully it's going ... give us the opportunity to decentralise and for us to be able to work more our in the regions, and to do more effective work with our communities and talk to our communities," she said.
First People's Assembly co-chair Marcus Stewart said it was phenomenal to receive the $20 million funding. He said it put the organisation on a strong equal footing to negotiate with government for a self-determination fund.
State budget 2020-21:
- Shock budget win final piece of the jigsaw for Bendigo Senior Secondary
- Government funds health approach to public drunkenness
- State budget pours $8 billion into regional Victoria
- Castlemaine Goods Shed gets state budget boost
- Families welcome push for residential aged care ratios
- $10 million boost for upgrade to Bendigo Senior Secondary College
- Budget looks to reshape state with plans to create 400,000 jobs in five years
- 'Need for change': VCAL to be scrapped, replaced with single VCE program
- $12 million for former Kyneton Primary School works welcomed
- Enormous step for Dja Dja Wurrung as cultural hub funding promised
Mr Stewart said it meant people could expect treaty-making in Victoria soon.
"To see this level of investment by government because this shows that we are part of Victoria," Mr Stewart said.
"Treaty is critical to Victorians, and we're part of the state's infrastructure, like a parliament, like local government, and now the First Peoples' Assembly."
Mr Stewart said the funding would allow the First Peoples' Assembly to invest into its members with a stronger stipend, so they could get out and engage with the community more.
He said it would also look at establishing a regional footprint, such as offices in each of its five regions.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.