Victoria's Treaty Authority, a nation-first body that will act as an independent umpire in Treaty negotiations across the state, has launched the Treaty Negotiations Database.
For the first time in Australian history, Aboriginal Nations can formally request to enter into a Treaty with an Australia government.
Launched by the Treaty Authority this week, it will act as the first official step towards treaty talks and will hold information on which parties are involved in Treaty negotiations, as well as the status of negotiations.
The five members of the Authority were announced last year, and its duty is to "establish, maintain and administer the Negotiations Database as the central source of information about Treaty".
"The Negotiations Database will support First Peoples and the State of Victoria to act in accordance with the guiding principles of transparency and accountability as they work together towards Treaty, by making information accessible to negotiating parties and the public," the Treaty Authority states.
To be entered onto the database, parties must meet minimum standards. The Victorian government said the purpose of the Database was to "track participants in the negotiation process, as well as store information on what is being negotiated".
Djab Wurrung man and Authority member, Jidah Clark, told the ABC the launch now meant treaty was "live".
"We have to acknowledge that this is really a historic moment for Victoria, but also for the nation," Mr Clark said.
"Treaty is something our mob have been advocating for generations. It's really about addressing the fundamental relationship between First Peoples and the state.
"It's about looking at the past, rectifying injustice, but really building a better future. Not only for First Peoples communities [in Victoria], but ultimately all First Peoples in the nation."
The First Peoples' Assembly, the democratically elected "voice' of Indigenous people in Victoria, will begin Treaty negotiations with the state government later this year.
They are currently finalising their priorities through a series of community meetings, as well as a state-wide gathering - held in April.
The Assembly has been clear - both in public and private - that while they will negotiate a Treaty with the government on behalf of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria, any group can also enter into negotiations with the state on matters that are important to Traditional Owners in their own local areas.
There can only be one Traditional Owner Treaty that covers any particular part of the state, with a Self-Determination Fund implemented during the first term of the Assembly, and is designed to help Traditional Owners during their own negotiation process.
"Some groups might look at using the funds to employ a Treaty Manager or Organiser to have the yarns with their community and start developing the cultural governance structures and decision-making processes," First Peoples' Co-Chair Ngarra Murray said last year.
On Tuesday, First Peoples Minister Natalie Hutchins said the opening of the Database "means we are on track to begin Treaty negotiations this year".
"We [are] working to bring Victorian communities together through Treaty, having passed legislation, developed policies and taken action at every level of government to build relationships based on respect and understanding," Minister Hutchins said.
More information can be found online.
