The Victorian Greens have thrown their support behind a permanent First Peoples' Assembly.
"This is a landmark moment for Victoria, driven by the strength and vision of First Nations communities fighting for justice. It is a testament to the unrelenting leadership of the First Peoples' Assembly, and the Greens are proud to unequivocally support legislation that allows the Assembly to continue their important work," Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell said on Friday.
"The Greens will always stand with First Nations communities, and that means listening and being led by the solutions they tell us are needed. First Nations communities have been clear about what genuine self-determination and justice require - and we are ready to not just listen, but act."
The party also pushed the Labor government to adopt all 100 recommendations made in the Yoorrook Justice Commission's final report, tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.
Earlier on Friday, the Victorian government confirmed its plans to table the Statewide Treaty Bill seeking to establish the state's First Peoples' Assembly as a statutory corporation and permanent body "to provide advice to Government and make decisions over matters that affect First Peoples".
The state government and the Assembly released a joint statement which said the most recent negotiation developments were just the latest in an "almost decade-long path that Victoria has been on towards achieving Australia's first Treaty".
The Victorian Opposition attacked the government for what it claimed is questionable timing and a lack of detail.
Opposition leader Brad Battin said: "This is a Premier who waits until Friday, after one of the most distressing weeks for Victorian families in recent memory, to drop her government's treaty plans. Labor knows full well that Victorians voted against the Voice - and they're hoping no one notices this announcement while we're all focused on protecting our children."
Earlier this week Victoria Police announced that a Melbourne childcare worker had been charged with more than 70 offences in relation to alleged abuse of multiple children.
The Opposition leader also claimed the government has been "distracted" by the Treaty process.
"This is the culmination of a treaty process negotiated behind closed doors and without transparency. This is their version of consultative government," he said.
"Victorians expect governments to deliver real, measurable progress - but under Labor, the gap is widening, and the government is distracted with their Treaty and a Victorian Voice."
Victoria's Opposition spokesperson for Aboriginal Affairs Melina Bath said: "We do not support a treaty, and we do not support a Victorian version of a Voice to Parliament."
The Assembly and Government have outlined: an independent accountability mechanism "that is required by the National Agreement to Close the Gap" to provide representations, solutions and advice to government, and be able to ask ministers questions; "Make decisions and rules about specific matters that directly impact First Peoples, such as the confirmation of Aboriginality"; appoint First Peoples' seats on state boards and entities; and "Lead ongoing truth-telling, healing and reconciliation across Victorian towns and regions".
They clarified the proposed body would have no veto power on policy and legislation; an issue repeatedly - and misleadingly - raised by 'No' campaigners in the lead-up to 2023's national Voice to Parliament referendum.
Earlier this week, Premier Allan said an established First Peoples' body was a "commonsense approach".
She also said it differed from the proposed Voice to Parliament in the sense it wasn't a constitutional change.
