Victorian Statewide Treaty
In 2025, the Victorian government passed legislation for a Statewide Treaty. Cultural assent for Victoria’s statewide treaty was achieved through traditional Aboriginal law and ceremony, culminating in a public ceremonial exchange on Wurundjeri country in December 2025. This cultural ratification was formally celebrated alongside the state’s royal assent to give the legislation binding effect. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- Empowering First Peoples: Gellung Warl provides a formalised framework to give Indigenous Victorians meaningful decision-making powers, ensure they are consulted on relevant state policies and legislation, and allow them to shape programs at a local level. [1, 2]
- Institutionalising Truth-Telling: It lays the groundwork for statewide truth-telling, which includes adding the true history of colonisation to the Victorian school curriculum. [1, 2]
- Cultural Recognition: It mandates obligations for the Victorian public sector to improve cultural competency, and promotes the use of traditional Aboriginal place names for geographical features. [1]
- Protecting Rights: The legislation is designed to respect and protect existing rights held by Traditional Owners, while outlining a process for ongoing negotiations to address historic wrongs. [1, 2]
- Scope and Limitations: While it establishes new pathways for Indigenous representation, the legislation does not create a separate chamber of Parliament, nor does it change the Victorian or Commonwealth Constitution, alter tax laws, or provide individual financial reparations. [1]
Protecting Treaty
If elected, the Victorian Liberal and Nationals coalition has pledged to repeal the state’s Treaty legislation entirely within their first 100 days in office. [1, 2]. In response JAM! encourages you to write to the opposition leader, Jess Wilson jess.wilson.mp@parliament.vic.gov.au, or other politicians who oppose Treaty, and express your support for Treaty. Below is a button to send a prefilled email of the SAMPLE LETTER or you can copy and paste the one shown to your email and modify to include your concerns. Remember to sign and address your email if you are seeking a response.
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Ms Wilson,
I am writing to urge you, as Leader of the Opposition in Victoria, to show your support for the Statewide Treaty with First Peoples in our State.
The Statewide Treaty represents an opportunity to build a stronger, fairer and more united Victoria. It is not about division or special treatment; rather, it is about recognising the unique place of First Peoples as the original custodians of this land and establishing a framework based on mutual respect, accountability and shared prosperity.
Supporting the Statewide Treaty would acknowledge the history of dispossession and the enduring impact that past policies have had on Aboriginal communities as documented through the Yoorrook Commission in its Truth Be Told report (https://cdn.craft.cloud/06ad3276-b3d9-4912-bcbb-37795aade9a8/assets/documents/Yoorrook_OPR_Accessible_Print.pdf). Importantly, however, Treaty is also about the future. It provides a pathway to improved relationships between governments and First Peoples, enabling decisions to be made with those who are directly affected by them. Better outcomes in areas such as health, education, child protection and economic participation are more likely when communities have a genuine voice in shaping policies and services.
There are also broader benefits for all Victorians. The Treaty processes can contribute to social cohesion by fostering a deeper understanding of our shared history and promoting reconciliation. It can create greater certainty through agreed principles and mechanisms for engagement, reducing conflict and building trust between communities and institutions.
Victoria has often led the nation in pursuing practical reforms that strengthen our democracy and improve outcomes for citizens. Supporting the Statewide Treaty would continue that tradition of leadership. It would demonstrate that we are mature enough as a society to address difficult aspects of our history while working together to create a more inclusive future.
As Leader of the Opposition, your support would send a powerful message that reconciliation and respect for First Peoples transcend party politics. A bipartisan commitment to Treaty would provide confidence and stability to the process and reassure Victorians that this important work is being undertaken in the interests of the entire State.
I respectfully ask that you consider supporting the Statewide Treaty processes and engaging constructively with First Peoples and the Victorian community as this work progresses. The decisions made today will help shape the kind of Victoria we leave to future generations—one that values truth, fairness, partnership and opportunity for all.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my views. I look forward to seeing political leadership that brings Victorians together in pursuit of a stronger and more united State through Treaty. Please let me know what actions you will take to support the Statewide Treaty.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
Further Actions to Support Treaty
- Share and promote positive, factual information about Treaty: https://gellungwarl.org/resources/library/category/statewide-treaty/
- Be a visible, vocal supporter – show up to events, put up posters, put info on your website, have community
conversations.: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xyRlHn9MFa-T1oHu4joJMQJ2hZGPrAc9?usp=sharing - Enrol (if you’re Mob), sign up (if you’re an ally) or become a Friend of Treaty organisation and make a public pledge: Sign Up – Gellung Warl
- Read, share and act on the truths and recommendations of the Yoorrook Justice Commission: Yoorrook Justice Commission
- Engage with our Members and organise Treaty talks and events in your community/organisation Please find an engagement request form here
