The Victorian Opposition's pledge to repeal Treaty legislation if it wins government has been condemned as "deeply hurtful and disrespectful" by the state's peak body for Indigenous-controlled health organisations.
The criticism follows the Opposition's announcement on Tuesday that it would scrap Victoria's historic Treaty bill — which would make the state the first in Australia to have a formal Treaty with First Nations people — if it wins next year's election. The legislation is currently being debated in Parliament and is guaranteed to pass with the support of the crossbench.
Despite broad support for Treaty among Traditional Owners across Victoria, and despite neither the Liberals nor the Nationals having any Indigenous MPs, the Opposition said it would introduce legislation within its first 100 days to repeal the Treaty Act, arguing the process is not the "best way to close the gap and deliver better outcomes for Indigenous communities".
On Wednesday, the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) said the move was a setback to years of progress. CEO Jill Gallagher called it "deeply hurtful and disrespectful" for the Opposition to use "this historic moment to try and tear down the hard work of the First Peoples Assembly and everyone who has contributed to building this path to Treaty".
"Decisions about us must be made by us and government bureaucrats don't know what works and doesn't work for our Communities. The Coalition's policy is another example of decisions being made without us," the Gunditjmara Elder said.
Under the Opposition's proposal, a new department — First Nations Victoria — and an unelected Aboriginal advisory body would be created. The Coalition says this model would bring greater transparency and measurable outcomes by working "alongside Indigenous Victorians to implement a community-led, co-ordinated and transparent approach to policy, funding and service delivery".
First Nations Victoria would issue quarterly updates and table annual reports in Parliament tracking progress in health, education, justice, and child and family well-being. One minister would be "ultimately responsible for First Nations Victoria, providing true accountability to ensure funding and services reach the people who need it".
"First Nations Victoria will work in genuine partnership with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, traditional owners, elders and local communities to co-design and deliver services that reflect their priorities," Liberal Leader Brad Battin said.
"Our commitment is to work alongside Aboriginal organisations, elders and communities to ensure that every initiative is grounded in cultural safety, trust and local knowledge."
The Opposition withdrew from the previously bipartisan Treaty process in January last year — without notifying the First Peoples' Assembly — and has since maintained that a Treaty is not the best way to close the gap.
On Tuesday, Mr Battin said: "There's a big difference from running an advisory group, to having an elected group come into the Parliament and operate effectively as another level of government." Nationals MP and Opposition spokeswoman for Aboriginal Affairs, Melina Bath, added: "We have listened to Indigenous communities who want practical solutions."
Ms Gallagher, who served as Victoria's first Treaty Commissioner, rejected those claims.
"What the Coalition is proposing is just another advisory committee. We have had hundreds of committees over the years and they haven't worked. The time for change is now, and I believe Treaty is the change we need," she said.
She noted that Victoria already has an elected Indigenous representative body — the 33-member First Peoples' Assembly, which will be renamed Gellung Warl, meaning "tip of the spear" or "pointed spear" in Gunaikurnai, under the new legislation — and said "the majority of Victorians have already shown their support of Treaty".
"We know that people thrive when they can set their own course in life and when they can make choices about what works best for them and their families based on their own experiences, talents and aspirations," Ms Gallagher said.
"Now more than ever, Victorians need to come together as one and celebrate belonging to the oldest continuing culture in the world. Rather than ignore our history, we should stand up and be proud of our Indigenous culture, which is a gift for all Australians."
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Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Assembly Co-Chair Rueben Berg said good intentions had too often outlasted meaningful results, adding that Gellung Warl would prioritise accountability and transparency.
"We will accept scrutiny from our people, from this Parliament, from independent bodies," he said. "And we will measure success where it counts."
Fellow Co-Chair Ngarra Murray said Treaty marked the end of governments using Aboriginal people as political pawns.
"The time for paternalistic Governments making decisions on behalf of our people ends with this Treaty," the Wamba Wamba, Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung and Dhudhuroa woman said.
"No longer will policies be made about us, without us. Our people will no longer tolerate being the political football that politicians kick around looking to further their own selfish interests."
Premier Jacinta Allan strongly criticised the Opposition's stance, accusing it of prioritising destruction over progress.
"They have told the community that their first priority if they should have the privilege of holding government is not to build the future, it's to tear it down," she said on Tuesday. "Tear down something that has been worked on not just for the last ten years that we have been working on this, but for decades."
