Victorian Treaty push gathers pace with call for allies

Posted on 28 Jul 2025

By Nick Place, journalist, Institute of Community Directors Australia

FPAV NAIDOC March BACKGROUND WEB 22 173 — Treaty now? Treaty briefings, yeah! Pic: First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria

Work to secure Australia’s first Treaty with First Nations peoples is gathering pace with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria inviting potential allies to two online briefings.

The Victorian government hopes to introduce a statewide treaty bill to Parliament later this year and is working with the First Peoples’ Assembly to drive the process.

To update supporters on progress, and advise on how potential allies can become involved, the First Peoples’ Assembly is holding online briefings over the coming weeks.

The co-chair of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, Gunditjmara man Reuben Berg.

The first is this week, on Thursday, July 31, from 12 noon to 1pm, where NGOs, not-for-profits, unions and community groups can hear about how to get on board as supporters.

A second briefing, for “allies”, such as individuals or families, will be held on Thursday, August 14, from 6pm to 7pm.

“One of the many consistent conversations I’ve had on this journey is allies asking, ‘How can I do more?’” said the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria’s co-chair, Gunditjmara man Reuben Berg. “In Victoria we’re leading the way nationwide with Treaty. If you want to do more, get on board and show up for what matters, listen and learn about Treaty. Be a part of a cause for our collective future.”

This Thursday’s online briefing will detail a Friends of Treaty initiative designed to offer organisations a path to formalise their support through a public Treaty pledge, as well as outlining ways they can take concrete action.

“One of the many consistent conversations I’ve had on this journey is allies asking, how can I do more?”

First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria's co-chair, Reuben Berg

The August 14 briefing for allies will outline how the Victorian government and First Peoples’ Assembly are working towards Treaty, what it will include and how people can walk alongside.

An Assembly spokesperson said while the journey to Treaty needed to be led by First Peoples, allies and ally organisations were invited to walk alongside, with the briefings set to explain how to amplify positive messaging and respond to opposition narratives, along with other ways to contribute and support.

A joint statement earlier this month, from the First Peoples’ Assembly and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, who is also the acting Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, said negotiations were focused on how to evolve the assembly into an ongoing representative body to provide advice to government and make decisions on matters that affect First Peoples.

Independent and democratically elected, the First Peoples’ Assembly has represented First Peoples in the Treaty process for the past five years.