Overview
- The Statewide Treaty Bill passed the upper house 21–16 with support from Labor, the Greens and key crossbenchers, while the Coalition and several conservative MPs opposed it and have pledged repeal if elected.
- The law creates Gellung Warl, embedding the First Peoples’ Assembly as a permanent representative body that must be consulted on laws and policies affecting Aboriginal Victorians, with parliamentary law‑making power explicitly preserved and no veto.
- Two new institutions are established alongside the Assembly: Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna for ongoing truth‑telling and Nginma Ngainga Wara to hold government to account with inquiry powers.
- The agreement commits to a formal parliamentary apology, curriculum changes using Yoorrook findings, processes for traditional place names, an infrastructure fund for Aboriginal‑led groups, and independent five‑year reviews.
- The legislation now awaits royal assent, with a formal signing in the coming weeks and a public ceremonial commencement on December 12; funding includes a special appropriation to ‘futureproof’ Gellung Warl and multi‑year operational support.