Results of consultations
Since February 2016, Aboriginal Victorians have been consulted on what structure they want to represent their community in order to progress treaty. The process has been led by the Aboriginal Treaty Interim Working Group.
On Friday 28 April 2017 the Victorian Treaty Forum was held in Melbourne for the Victorian Aboriginal community. The purpose was to outline the journey so far, present the outcomes of the March consultations, Treaty Circles and Online Message Stick, and advise on the next steps in the treaty process.
Aboriginal Community Consultations Reports – June 2017
Treaty is an evolving process. The reports on the latest phase of community consultations are available.
Aboriginal Community Consultations on the Design of a Representative Body - Summary reportPDF (650.57 KB) Aboriginal Community Consultations on the Design of a Representative Body – Full ReportPDF (6.51 MB)
The reports include a detailed analysis of the Aboriginal Treaty Interim Working Group’s preferred legal structure - a company limited by guarantee - along with the other legal structures that were considered in depth. The overarching principle, decided through community consultations, is that the representative body be democratic, independent from government, and able to authorise treaty/treaties.
An open letter from the Aboriginal Treaty Interim Working Group to the Aboriginal community on the March – April 2017 Community Consultations Report
We would like to start by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather. We would like to pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging - for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Aboriginal people across the nation.
The Aboriginal Treaty Interim Working Group (the Working Group) is pleased to release the report from the latest round of community consultations on treaty.
The report, authored by Ernst & Young, provides a detailed analysis of the results from the latest round of community consultations along with an overview of the major entity design elements that are being worked through including next steps.
As we have previously stated, the Working Group’s role is not to negotiate treaty, it is to consult the Aboriginal community on what it would like to see in a representative structure so that government has an equal partner to work with on the pathway to treaty.
The first step in developing this representative structure was consulting the community on design principles, things that were important to the community in determining a representative structure in its cultural shape. These design principles have, and will continue to guide the approach as we move towards finalising the remaining elements of the representative structure.
The next phase of community consultations will be in the form of a Community Assembly (the Assembly) which will consist of a diverse range of Aboriginal Victorians selected through an expression of interest which will be open to all and will run across the second half of 2017. This will mean that any Aboriginal Victorian will, once again, have the chance to have their voice heard.
As soon as the details for the Assembly are finalised, all information will be posted on the Aboriginal Victoria website.
Sincerely,
Aboriginal Treaty Interim Working Group
Next steps
The Aboriginal Treaty Interim Working Group will soon be setting up an Aboriginal Community Assembly to provide recommendations on the remaining design elements of the representative body. This is currently in development - more information will be provided once it is finalised.
A summary of the results from the latest phase of community consultations is provided below. This was also provided in hardcopy at the Victorian Treaty Forum on 28 April 2017.
Summary of Community Advice on Representation: February-April 2017PDF (749.99 KB)
2016
You can read the full report from the 2016 consultation:
Any questions, please email treaty@dpc.vic.gov.au.