Victoria Signs Landmark Treaty Acknowledging Harms of British Colonisation to Aboriginal Peoples

Victoria signs landmark treaty acknowledging past harms

The state of Victoria has become the first Australian government to formally acknowledge the "deep and lasting scars" left on Aboriginal communities by British colonisation after its Labor government enacted a 34‑page treaty in Melbourne.

Signed in the state capital by Premier Jacinta Allan and Governor Margaret Gardner, acting for the King, the agreement is described by the government as a "new chapter" in relations with First Nations people. It establishes a representative body, Gellung Warl — meaning "tip of the spear" in the Gunaikurnai language — to advise ministers and participate in negotiations over land, cultural protections and the delivery of government services.

Truth‑telling and recognition

The treaty commits Victoria to a formal "truth‑telling" process that acknowledges the traumatic impact of British settlement. It explicitly rejects the doctrine of terra nullius — the idea that the land belonged to no one — calling that notion a "fiction" that ignored Australia’s Indigenous peoples.

"Today is a recognition that ancient systems of law and the modern institutions of our democracy can stand side‑by‑side," Premier Jacinta Allan said, adding that greater Indigenous participation in decisions over healthcare, housing, education and cultural practice will improve outcomes and make the state fairer.

What Gellung Warl will do

Gellung Warl is expected to play a central role in negotiating native title issues, cultural protections and government services. It has advocated for curriculum changes to include teaching about historical harms, mandatory cultural‑sensitivity training for teachers, and audits of school libraries to remove material deemed racist. The treaty also encourages the wider use of Indigenous place names on signs, waterways and public infrastructure.

Reaction and politics

The legislation has drawn sharply divided responses. Human rights leaders, including UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, welcomed the treaty as a "transformative" step toward justice, reconciliation and self‑determination. Opponents, including the state Liberal Party and conservative think tanks, argue the treaty revives the idea of an Indigenous "Voice" by other means, calling it racially divisive and pledging repeal if they win next year’s state election.

The Institute of Public Affairs warned the treaty could create what it described as "a separate and parallel parliament based on race," while the state opposition said it would scrap the agreement within 100 days of taking office if elected.

Historical findings cited

Victoria’s Yoorrook Justice Commission — a truth‑telling inquiry cited in the treaty — concluded that within 20 years of settlement the Aboriginal population in Victoria had fallen by nearly 90%. The commission recorded killings, forced removals of children, widespread destruction of cultural sites and loss of languages. The treaty also references research by the University of Newcastle documenting more than 400 massacres across frontier conflicts that resulted in the deaths of more than 10,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Thousands of children were taken from their families during policies later described as the "stolen generations," and many of the roughly 40 languages once spoken in Victoria were lost or severely diminished, the document notes.

Context and next steps

The treaty signing follows a native title claim lodged by representatives of the Wurundjeri Woi‑wurrung people covering lands around Melbourne. If granted, native title would recognise certain rights to use land and waterways and help protect cultural traditions.

Other states, including New South Wales and South Australia, are exploring their own treaty processes. At federal level, the Labor Party has stepped back from pursuing a national treaty, leaving Australia among few Commonwealth countries without a national agreement with Indigenous peoples.

Public passions and symbolism

The debate has been emotionally charged. During the King’s visit to Canberra last year, Senator Lidia Thorpe publicly demanded a treaty and the return of stolen remains, accusing the Crown of genocide. Local disputes over colonial monuments have also intensified — a statue of King George V in Melbourne was beheaded earlier this year and later displayed by the Irish band Kneecap at a concert, an incident that drew broad attention to the issue of colonial symbolism.

Supporters say the treaty is a concrete step toward acknowledging historical injustices and giving Indigenous Victorians a stronger voice in policies that affect their lives. Critics say it risks deepening divisions and creating parallel decision‑making structures. The outcome will likely shape both Victoria’s politics and national debates about recognition, reconciliation and self‑determination.