The Federal Government’s $14.6 million commitment to 12 new areas of land managed by Traditional Owner groups is a positive step towards increased Indigenous Protected Areas spanning south-eastern Australia – which are possible despite extensive freehold title in Victoria.

Traditional Owner groups whose stolen land was irreversibly damaged and commodified by the state’s native timber logging must now receive compensation and lead decision-making about the future use of their Country.

Dedicated funding for Traditional Owner groups in today’s education reforms is a genuine and welcome recognition of their rights and authority.

The Victorian Government is on notice to allow the buying back – and immediate handing over to Traditional Owners – of water entitlements in the Murray-Darling Basin.

  If governments want to close the gap in First Nations life outcomes and see their Budget commitments to Aboriginal communities be truly effective, they must fundamentally reconceive of the way they work with Traditional Owners: respecting and resourcing their self-determined governance structures, says the state-wide body that advocates for the rights and interests of Victorian Traditional Owner groups. The Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations welcomes the recent Victorian and Federal Budgets’ funding commitments to Aboriginal communities, but CEO Paul Paton says a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for First Nations peoples involves resourcing Traditional Owner Corporations. “Building a better future requires governments to restore our stolen capacity to lead and make decisions for Country. Fundamentally, this involves governments recognising Traditional Owners as rights-holders on Country – not mere stakeholders to consult or a box to tick, but authorities to adequately resource and work alongside in genuine partnership. Only then can our collective right to self-determination be realised.” The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples enshrines the collective right of First Nations people to self-determination and self-government in exercising this right which, in Victoria, is expressed principally through Traditional Owner Corporation structures. Mr Paton says that…

An historic compensation and benefit-sharing agreement between a Traditional Owner Corporation and mining company unlocks an unprecedented opportunity for Traditional Owners to be respected as rights-holders and equal partners on Country.

The Victorian Government ministers who vowed to address legacies of injustice towards Aboriginal people in their evidence to Victoria’s truth-telling commission must now back up their words with action, says the state-wide body that advocates for the rights and interests of Victorian Traditional Owner groups.

The Yoorrook Justice Commission has heard government doesn’t fully understand self-determination and fails to recognise the nature and importance of collectively held land rights, in testimony from the state-wide body that advocates for the rights and interests of Victorian Traditional Owner groups.

The Victorian Government must give effect to Traditional Owners’ rights to water and guarantee Aboriginal-owned water title in order to stake its claim as a nation-leading environmental manager, says the state-wide body that advocates for the rights and interests of Victorian Traditional Owner groups.