The First Peoples' Assembly — initially established to negotiate Treaty on behalf of Indigenous Victorians — is set to become a permanent body.
The Victorian Government, currently engaged in Treaty negotiations with the Assembly, is expected to introduce a Treaty bill to state parliament before the end of the year which will enshrine the Assembly's existence as a statutory advisory body.
According to Guardian Australia, the body will be renamed and granted formal powers to advise on matters affecting Victorian First Peoples. While the government must consult with the body on such issues, it will not be given veto powers over legislation or parliamentary decisions.
Former Treaty Commissioner Aunty Jill Gallagher told the Herald Sun: "The most important thing is we have an independent voice, which can start making and monitoring government policies and hold them to account."
On Monday, Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed the body may be granted a formal role and dismissed suggestions that the result of the Voice to Parliament referendum — in which just over 54 per cent of Victorians voted No — is relevant.
"The key difference to the referendum that was put nationwide a couple of years ago is that was changing the Constitution," she said.
"This is not changing the Victorian Constitution. It is simply taking a commonsense approach – sitting the First Peoples' Assembly, an ongoing representative body, into our existing parliamentary structures.
"The significant change is it will be a body where we will be listening, taking on their advice."
The Opposition — which withdrew from the Treaty process last year without notifying the Assembly — has criticised the proposal, arguing it goes against the will of voters.
"Trying to introduce legislation to have a voice to parliament here in Victoria, after Victorians have already said no, flies in the face of democracy," Opposition Leader Brad Battin said.
Formed in 2018, the First Peoples' Assembly has held two elections, with the current body made up of 33 elected Traditional Owners.
In a joint statement last month, the government and Assembly confirmed they are in discussions about the body's ongoing role — one that would "ensure First Peoples can make decisions on matters that impact their futures and play an ongoing role in truth-telling, including capturing stories from across Victoria and retaining an archive of this information".
The proposed permanent body would also "advocate for First Nations communities, provide advice, work on building community leadership capability and work with the Victorian Government to close the gap between First Peoples and other Victorians".
Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins said in May: "If you listen to the people directly affected by policies, you get better outcomes — that's commonsense."
