Victoria becomes first Australian State to sign treaty with Indigenous peoples

Victoria has made history as the first Australian state to strike a treaty with its Indigenous peoples, a landmark step in a nation still grappling with its colonial legacy.

Premier Jacinta Allan signed the agreement in Melbourne on November 13, concluding nearly a decade of negotiations with Victoria’s First Nations peoples, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The 34-page treaty formally acknowledges the harms caused by colonisation and establishes a new representative body tasked with advancing Indigenous rights and outcomes across the state. “Today is a recognition that ancient systems of law and the modern institutions of our democracy can stand side-by-side,” Allan said.

No Australian government has reached a formal agreement with its First Nations peoples in more than 200 years since British settlement, even as countries such as Canada and New Zealand have enacted similar accords.

Previous attempts at reconciliation in Australia have seen mixed results. A landmark 1992 court ruling on land rights was later diluted by successive governments, and decades of forced child removals prompted a national apology from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2008. Most recently, a 2023 referendum rejected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s proposal to enshrine an Indigenous advisory body in the constitution.

Despite Australia’s wealth, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians continue to face shorter life expectancy, poorer education outcomes, and higher infant mortality rates than the broader population.

Victoria’s centre-right opposition has vowed to repeal the treaty if they win the state election scheduled for November 2026, highlighting ongoing political debate around Indigenous recognition.

By Vugar Khalilov