Despite broad support among Victorian Traditional Owners, the Opposition's shadow minister for Indigenous Australians, Kerrynne Liddle, says there are "many unanswered questions with respect to Treaty".

On Tuesday, the state government and the First Peoples' Assembly introduced the Treaty Bill to parliament — the result of years of negotiation. Traditional Owners welcomed the announcement as a proud and historic moment, calling it a practical mechanism that will allow First Peoples to make decisions about their own lives.

But Senator Liddle, who opposed the Voice to Parliament in 2023, said while support for state and local treaties was "a matter for them and the Victorian people who elected them," questions remain about how the legislation will work.

"The Coalition waits to learn how the Victorian Treaty will intersect with other state treaties and how the treaty will operate for language groups that cross state borders," she said.

"The Allan Labor Government must also explain how the treaty will interact with existing native title legislation which already includes rights and benefits, and who will pay for it."

The state Opposition has pledged to vote against the bill, arguing the 2023 Referendum showed Victorians do not want a Treaty.

Nationals MP Melina Bath, the Opposition's spokeswoman for Aboriginal affairs, said while she shared the Assembly's desire to close the gap, she did not believe Treaty was the best approach.

"The Liberals and Nationals are absolutely committed to closing the gap," she said, The Age reports.

"We believe there are alternative approaches that avoid division and race-based distinctions and will deliver real and positive outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians."

Assembly co-chair Rueben Berg rejected that argument on Tuesday.

"To anyone who's suggesting ideas about what we need to do to improve conditions for First Peoples, I'd say the best people you should talk to about that are First Peoples," he told reporters.

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Wide-ranging reforms

The Treaty framework, outlined in a 34-page report released on Tuesday, includes reforms such as embedding Indigenous Truth-telling in the Victorian school curriculum from prep to Year 10, introducing a formal apology to First Peoples, and expanding the use of traditional names for parks and waterways.

It also permanently establishes the First Peoples' Assembly under a new statutory corporation, Gellung Warl — meaning "tip of the spear" or "pointed spear" in Gunaikurnai.

Gellung Warl will include a truth-telling body, Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna ("sitting and listening" in Wamba Wemba), and an accountability body, Nginma Ngainga Wara ("you will do" in Wadi Wadi), which will hold the state accountable for progress on Closing the Gap targets in health, education and economic outcomes.

The Federal Indigenous Australians Minister, Malarndirri McCarthy, welcomed the bill's introduction on Tuesday.

"Treaty isn't the start or the end of a process," she said. "It's a mutual coming together and recognition of respect. It's the acknowledgement that both sides want to work with each other into the future.

"Victoria took a big step forward today; the introduction of the treaty bill is the culmination of generations of work. Congratulations to all involved in bringing this bill to the Parliament."

In response to the Treaty announcement, Independent Victoria Senator Lidia Thorpe said she was "particularly interested" in Nginma Ngainga Wara, arguing it is needed so there can be independent monitoring of the government's performance in key areas.

She cited the implementation of recommendations from the Yoorrook Justice and Bringing them Home reports, as well as those from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, as vitally important.

"But monitoring is not enough," she said. "These new bodies need to have teeth so we can finally see action in those areas where intentional government inaction has cost our people's lives. I look forward to learning more about the actual powers of Gellung Warl, and how they interact with the established colonial government system."

Federal Treaty

Senator Liddle also accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of speaking in "riddles" on a federal Treaty and Truth-telling.

"The PM needs to come clean about what he intends to bind future generations to and why, as Closing the Gap targets continue to worsen under his government, announcements are his focus rather than immediate, impactful action," she said.

Senator Liddle added the Coalition will "continue to advocate practical action over symbolic gestures because that matters most to those who need help the most".

A federal Treaty was backed by Senator Thorpe, who said both Truth and Treaty are "nothing to be afraid of — they are about peace, healing, and bringing this nation together".

"Ultimately, we need Treaty at a national level. While there's a lot of work to do to get there, the Albanese government should start the process by establishing a federal truth-telling body, which will lay the groundwork for Treaty at the national level as Yoorook did in Victoria," she said.

Premier Jacinta Allan said Australia remained an "outlier" internationally, being the only country without a Treaty with its Indigenous peoples.

Mr Berg echoed that sentiment: "Today, we take a key next step to address that."

"This will reset the relationship between First Peoples and government. This will create a body that will enact real, practical change for First Peoples in our state... everyone wants to see First Peoples thrive, and we are ready to get to work to use this treaty to deliver improved improvements in health, education and housing for our people," he said.