Mob-led community election debate to take place as Treaty dismantling fears loom

Dechlan Brennan
Dechlan Brennan Published October 26, 2026 at 3.15pm (AWST)

A political debate for mob will be held this week in Melbourne, a month before the hugely consequential Victorian state election.

The Community Question Time, hosted by the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), will feature Labor's Health Minister Ingrid Stitt, Greens deputy leader Sarah Mansfield, Oskar Martin from the Victorian Socialists and VACCHO CEO Jill Gallagher.

"This in-person, panel-style event is a unique opportunity for mob to come together to question political representatives from various political parties on important issues impacting Aboriginal Communities in the lead-up to the Victorian state election in November," VACCHO said.

In a statement to National Indigenous Times, VACCHO's acting CEO Jim O'Shea said the events "create a safe space for Mob to have meaningful conversations prior to hitting the polling stations in November".

"Truth-telling and uncomfortable conversations are central to the way forward for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people," he said.

"This is the fourth year that VACCHO has hosted these unique panel events for Community which provide a valuable platform for conversations that can often be powerful and raw."

Despite polls pointing to a likely Coalition government in November, no Liberal or National MP is scheduled to appear at the event.

It mirrors the absence of any Coalition representatives at another VACCHO-hosted community question time before last year's federal election.

The lack of a Coalition MP is telling, as the opposition has vowed to repeal the landmark Treaty legislation within 100 days of taking office.

Appearing before the Senate inquiry into racism against Aboriginal people in August, newly elected Assembly Co-Chair Djaran Murray-Jackson said concerns about Treaty had been raised with him by First Peoples across the state.

"It's scary for our mob...every conversation with us they raise it," Mr Murray-Jackson said.

"I was hopeful Treaty would stay above party politics."

The Opposition refused to back an official parliamentary apology to First Peoples last year due to the mention of Treaty, and leader Jess Wilson — who supported the Voice to Parliament referendum — has refused to change her position since taking command of the party.

Dismantling the entire framework associated with Treaty — including Gellung Warl, the Self-Determination Fund used to help other Traditional Owner groups negotiate treaties, and the independent negotiating umpire, the Treaty Authority — would save the Victorian budget $247.8 million over the four years of a Liberal government, according to the state's Parliamentary Budget Office.

The community Question Time will be held at the Darebin Arts Centre on Thursday, October 29th, with a smoking ceremony starting at 6 pm. More information can be found online

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National Indigenous Times

Disclaimer: This function is AI-generated and therefore may mispronounce.