The Treaty Authority is a nation-leading institution, drawing on international best practice of institutions overseeing Treaty negotiations, but adapted for Victoria.
The Treaty Authority and Other Treaty Elements Act 2022 (Treaty Authority Act) was enacted by the Victorian Parliament on 23 August 2022, following a historic agreement reached between the Government and the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria (First Peoples’ Assembly).
The former First Peoples’ Assembly Co-Chairs Marcus Stewart and Aunty Geraldine Atkinson addressed members of Parliament prior to debate of the law, calling on them to listen to the voice of First Peoples in Victoria.
The First Peoples’ Assembly Co-Chairs make a historic address to the Victorian Parliament on the importance of treaty.The First Peoples’ Assembly Co-Chairs make a historic address to the Victorian Parliament on the importance of treaty.
The Act allows for the creation of the Treaty Authority as an ‘independent umpire’ to oversee negotiations between the Government and First Peoples in Victoria. The Treaty Authority’s role will ensure a fair treaty process that can realise positive outcomes for all Victorians.
The Victorian Government and the First Peoples’ Assembly announced the appointment of the five inaugural members of the Authority on 6 December 2023.
The inaugural Treaty Authority members are:
- Dr Petah Atkinson
- Thelma Austin
- Jidah Clark
- Andrew Jackomos
- Duean White.
All five Treaty Authority members are First Peoples.
Visit the Treaty Authority(opens in a new window) website to learn more about their work.
Online version: Treaty Authority Agreement
Treaty Negotiations Database
The Treaty Authority launched the Treaty Negotiations Database on 1 July 2024.
The Database is the official register of all parties engaging in Treaty negotiations. It will hold information on which parties are involved in Treaty negotiations, as well as what is being negotiated and the status of negotiations.
The Treaty Authority will administer the database and will invite negotiating parties including the Victorian Government to register on the database. Parties must meet minimum standards to be entered onto the Database.
Negotiations are expected to start after the negotiating parties are registered.
You can read more about Victoria’s treaty process on the First Peoples – State Relations website(opens in a new window).
Former Premier Daniel Andrews and former Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Gabrielle Williams sign the Treaty Authority Agreement with the First Peoples’ Assembly.The Treaty Act
The Victorian Government is committed to advancing Treaty with Victoria's First Peoples as a necessary step in realising Aboriginal self-determination.
In August 2018, this commitment was formalised in law with the passage of the Advancing the Treaty Process with Aboriginal Victorians Act 2018 (Treaty Act) – the first treaty legislation in Australia's history.
The Treaty Act was developed with and led by First Peoples and communities, sets out a roadmap for Victoria's Treaty process. The Act commits the Victorian Government to work in partnership with First Peoples to establish elements necessary to support future treaty negotiations.
This includes a Treaty Authority, a Self-Determination Fund, a Treaty Negotiation Framework and a dispute resolution process.
Victoria is the first Australian jurisdiction to action both the treaty and truth elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart(opens in a new window).
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