The First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria is a body of 31 elected and appointed members representing Aboriginal Victorians. 22 "General Members" are elected via optional preferential voting in 5 multi-member electorates (known as "Regions"). General Members receiving a sufficient quota in each Region are elected, with the lowest ranking male candidates excluded until at least 40% of the members elected to a region are non-male.[6] 10 "Reserved Members" are appointed, with a member selected by each of the government recognised traditional owner groups.[7] Additional Reserved Member seats may be granted by the assembly on application by an Aboriginal group.[7]
The main task of the Assembly is to work out the rules by which individual treaties will be negotiated between the Victoria Government and the various Aboriginal Peoples. It will also establish an independent umpire, the Treaty Authority, to oversee negotiations between Aboriginal groups and the Victoria Government and ensure fairness. It will also establish a fund to help negotiations are take place on an even financial footing among the various groups, and debate and decide which ideas, laws, policies and rights will be the subject of treaty negotiations.[8]
The assembly meets in the chamber of the upper house of the Victorian Parliament, the Victorian Legislative Council.[8] It met for the first time on 10 December 2019,[9] and again met over two days in February 2020. The assembly hopes to agree upon a framework, umpire and process before November 2022, the date of the next state election. The current Labor government under Daniel Andrews is supportive, but the Coalition had not made a clear commitment to supporting the treaty process.[10]
On 11 July 2020, the Victoria Government announced that it would establish a truth and reconciliation commission for Aboriginal Australians in Victoria, the first ever in Australia, with the terms of reference to be worked out collaboratively. The 21 elected members of the assembly would consult with their communities and work with the Victoria Government to design the process. The announcement was welcomed by the community. The 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart called for a similar commission to be established at a national level.[11]
The assembly's
first election was in November 2019, however the
Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, declined to participate in the election process.
[8] On 3 August 2020, the assembly held its first official negotiation meeting with Aboriginal Affairs Minister
Gabrielle Williams.
[12] The assembly
held its second election in 2023, and new co-chairs were elected.