The peak body representing Victoria's Traditional Owners has criticised the state government for delaying the implementation of long-awaited reforms to improve how Traditional Owners govern their connection to native wildlife, calling the move "another unacceptable setback".

Last week, the state government released its response to the Wildlife Act Review - nearly four years after the independent expert panel handed down its report. Of the 40 recommendations made to modernise and strengthen Victoria's wildlife protection laws, seven focused specifically on advancing Traditional Owner self-determination, all of which were accepted "in principle".

"The Victorian Government welcomes the report and is now carefully considering the final recommendations and how we can work with Traditional Owners, Aboriginal communities, organisations, and relevant stakeholders to best implement reforms," the response said.

"For these reasons, the Panel recommendations relating to Traditional Owner rights are supported in principle but will be informed by further engagement with Traditional Owners as Treaty is progressed and the findings of the YJC [Yoorrook Justice Commission] reform report have been considered."

The Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations (FVTOC) said the government's decision to delay implementation to an unspecified date, pending further consultation, was inadequate. Interim CEO Kaley Nicholson accused the government of having "sat on their hands" for nearly four years despite knowing the recommendations.

"We know good policy takes time," Ms Nicholson said, "but another indeterminate delay is just disrespectful. It's not good enough.

"Why hasn't the Government been talking to us about wildlife since 2021? Stop using Treaty as an excuse to kick reform down the road, and pick up the phone - talk to us."

The review's recommendations included establishing collaborative governance arrangements between Traditional Owners, government and community; recognising culturally significant species; and developing species management plans.

The FVTOC said it strongly supported the recommendations, with Ms Nicholson noting that the panel "consulted widely and rigorously with Traditional Owner communities and its recommendations reflect the breadth and generosity of knowledge provided".

"The panel's work is a great example of how to engage with Traditional Owner and Aboriginal communities in the right way, and it isn't a coincidence that this came from a panel with an Aboriginal member [Dr Jack Pascoe]," she said.

"The Federation calls on the Victorian Government to follow its panel's example, and start yarning with us immediately about exactly how and when we're going to put these seven recommendations into practice."

In its response to the review, the government pointed to progress on several related measures, including proposed changes to Natural Resource Agreement conditions under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010, updates to the Wildlife Regulations 2024 to include certain exemptions for Traditional Owners, and progress toward Treaty. It said the Treaty process was "likely to further define a number of rights for Traditional Owners at a state level".

"Victoria's Statewide Treaty Bill is focusing on how to evolve the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria into an ongoing representative body to provide advice to Government and make decisions over matters that affect First Peoples," the response said.

"Careful consideration will be given to the interaction between Treaty outcomes and the further definition of rights."

The review also called for a new Wildlife Act. It would include granting Traditional Owners the right to access Crown land to gather the bodies of deceased fauna, and for those with native title or Traditional Owner Settlement Agreements to take wildlife resources for any purpose on specified lands.

The Federation argued such changes would advance Traditional Owner self-determination and ensure their perspectives, access, and decision-making power over fauna resources on Country. It also said it would welcome the opportunity to help the government engage with Traditional Owner communities to implement the review's recommendations.

"Five years ago, Traditional Owners handed the Victorian Government a framework for managing Country holistically, which could ensure abundance, forever," Ms Nicholson said.

"As native species face the real and devastating threat of extinction, it's never been more important to focus on what we can do: respecting the ways Traditional Owners have sustainably managed Country for thousands of generations, not erasing or ignoring this knowledge, and moving forward together - and swiftly - to care for Country in the proper way."