Overview

• The Liberal–National opposition committed to introducing repeal legislation within the first 100 days of a future government, with the decision agreed at a recent shadow cabinet meeting.
• Opposition leaders say they would replace the agreement with a new First Nations Victoria department focused on reporting to parliament and tracking Closing the Gap targets.
• Parliament begins its first debate on the treaty bill today following a smoking ceremony, with addresses from First Peoples' Assembly co-chairs Ngarra Murray and Rueben Berg.
• The legislation would make the Assembly permanent, establish the Gellung Warl representative body with ongoing special-appropriation funding, and empower members to brief cabinet, ministers, parliament and the Victoria Police chief commissioner.
• The bill outlines annual joint addresses to both houses and preserves parliamentary law‑making powers, and the government aims to have the agreement signed before the end of the year.