VICTORIAN Premier Jacinta Allan should immediately cease negotiations on a Treaty with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, according to Member for Northern Victoria Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell.
The One Nation upper house MP said the planned Treaty was “divisive and one most Victorians opposed”.
“The results of the Voice referendum last year showed that the majority of Victorians are opposed to a specific Treaty to be established with our First Nations people,” Mrs Tyrrell said.
“This was particularly the case in my electorate of Northern Victoria region where my constituents overwhelmingly rejected division based on race.”
Mrs Tyrrell said the way to improve the lives of Indigenous Victorians was not through “secretive” negotiations, but through “transparent and responsible” programs directly benefitting the lives of First Peoples.
The Victorian Government and First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria made history on November 21 with the opening of negotiations for Australia’s first Treaty.
The first statewide Treaty will be negotiated between the State of Victoria and the democratically elected body representing First Peoples, the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, in line with Treaty legislation and the Treaty Negotiation Framework.
Premier Jacinta Allan said better outcomes were achieved by listening to the people directly affected by policies.
“Treaty is about making a better and fairer state for every Victorian,” she said.
First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria co-chair Ngarra Murray said Treaty was from the ground up and talking to communities at every step.
“We are ready, we are prepared, and we look forward to a better future for our children, families and communities,” she said.
Fellow co-chair Rueben Berg said First Peoples want to negotiate a Treaty that will empower Aboriginal communities for generations to come.
“Whether it’s caring for land and keeping culture strong or improving the way services like health and education are delivered at a local level,” he said.
“Treaty negotiations will draw a line in the sand, right past wrongs, and deliver real improvements to the lives of First Peoples – in housing, education, health, employment.
“The past cannot be changed. What we can do now is sit down respectfully and negotiate how we move forward.”
Mrs Tyrrell also spoke of her own Indigenous heritage on her father’s side but that her heritage had never played a role in working to achieve her accomplishments.
“I have never relied on my family history to get me to where I am today,” she said.
“I grew up in a low socio-economic household, where in my childhood I experienced neglect, parental use of drugs and alcohol and both physical and emotional abuse,” Mrs Tyrrell said.
“Like so many others, I am living proof that we do not need to divide or separate Australians in order to improve their outcomes.”
Mrs Tyrrell said there was “secrecy and lack of transparency” by the Ms Allan regarding the Treaty process.
“Not only is this Treaty not welcomed by the majority of my constituents, but the fact also that the Premier refuses to divulge any information about the negotiation process is a major concern in the community, and frankly unacceptable,” Mrs Tyrrell said.
“We need unity rather and division in Victoria.”
Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said without any openness and transparency, Victorians will never know what rights or access to land and water will be traded away without their knowledge or agreement.
“Reports that traditional owner groups across the state will be able to negotiate individual treaties, which it is suggested will reflect the priorities and aspirations in their local area, are incredibly concerning,” he said.
“We have multiple tiers of government already in place – does this secretive Premier plan to cut out local councils and local communities about their own shires and their own homes and business?
“And if they are cut out, what does that do to other organisations such as our water authorities, water management in a country such as ours is already a massive and controversial challenge.”
