Voting opens for First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria

VOTING has opened for the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria election as the state’s Aboriginal communities move closer to negotiating a Treaty.

The assembly will look to give voice to Aboriginal communities in the next stage of the Treaty process.

Local Aboriginal Community Leader Eleanor Bourke said it was important for people to understand the significance of the assembly.

“It’s very important that we have a credible start to such a process.

“It is an opportunity to do something that has never been done before, and that is for groups of Aboriginal people to negotiate with the government, so it’s very important to vote for the assembly to be able to be elected to undertake that responsibility.”

Three seats are allocated to South West Victoria, with 12 candidates running for these seats.

Treaty advancement commissioner and Gunditjmara woman Jill Gallagher said it was an historical landmark.

“Our Ancestors have been demanding Treaties for hundreds of years. Today, we take a big step towards making it happen.”

Ms Gallagher said the need for this change was highlighted by Australia being one of the few Commonwealth nations without a treaty for its First Peoples.

Victoria is the first state to embark on the process of creating such a Treaty.

The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria looks to ensure the community is heard by working with the government to set up the negotiating framework for the Treaty process.

This will involve the formation of the Treaty Authority, a group that will act as an independent overseer throughout the Treaty process, and a self-determination fund to ensure the community is on equal footing with the government.

The vote will determine which Victorian Traditional Owners are elected to 21 of the 32 Assembly seats. The other 11 members will be selected from formally recognised Traditional Owner groups.

Voting is open until October 20.

To vote, eligible Aboriginal community members must enrol, either face to face or online at firstpeoplesvic.org.

After enrolling, voting can also be completed face to face, via post, or online.

For more information call 1800 87 32 89.