Tuesday, 26 November 2024

 Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Jobs and Industry, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Minister for Women) (14:14): I rise to update the house of the state’s path to treaty. Last Thursday in the Darebin Parklands on Wurundjeri land, with the sun beaming down, the Treaty Authority – the independent umpire set up with bipartisan support – authorised treaty negotiations to begin in this state. This was witnessed by all of Victoria’s traditional owner groups, who came together to write a new chapter in Victoria’s history – a chapter that ensures that First Peoples are listened to on matters that affect them, that embeds and celebrates First Peoples culture and that makes tangible changes to improving social and economic inequalities. The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and the state are now officially negotiating parties to this agreement. We are committed to negotiating this country’s first treaty in good faith and with transparency.

I know we can all agree on the importance of making sure Aboriginal Victorians can make decisions about matters that affect their lives for this generation and those to come. Treaty is an opportunity to walk side by side towards a better future – to close gaps on incarceration, out-of-home care, health, employment and life expectancy outcomes. If all of us in this house really want all Aboriginal children to grow up to have the same chance to be with their family, to graduate from university, to get a job and to be healthy, as all Victorians deserve, then treaty is the way forward, just as the Australian Productivity Commission has said. I reiterate my offer to everyone in the house: my door is open to you to be briefed on the power of treaty and how it can be used to close the gap and to make sure our state is better for all Victorians.