Replacing Treaty with yet another government department that tells Aboriginal People what’s best for us is a shameful and cowardly decision from the Victorian Liberal party that will only worsen Aboriginal life outcomes, says the statewide body advocating for Traditional Owner groups’ rights and interests.

Renewable energy legislation passed today is a welcome and important step towards Traditional Owner groups’ inclusion in the clean energy transition – but the true extent of the Victorian Government’s commitment to repairing past wrongs and ensuring Traditional Owners’ economic prosperity will lie in the strength of accompanying regulations, says the statewide body advocating for Traditional Owner groups’ rights and interests. The Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations acknowledges the VicGrid Stage 2 Reform bill as an important step towards the transmission network required for a clean and reliable energy supply for Victoria, and in particular welcomes its Traditional Owners Fund, which recognises the impact of renewables infrastructure development and operation on their Country. Federation interim CEO Kaley Nicholson congratulated resources minister Lily D’Ambrosio on this step towards supporting Traditional Owner groups. “A dedicated fund for Traditional Owners is wholesale recognition of our connection to Country and how infrastructure projects impact Country and community – historically, without our knowledge, consent or benefit,” she said. “The Traditional Owner Fund signals things will be done differently in the clean energy transition, and for that reason, the Federation welcomes VicGrid’s commitment to Traditional Owner communities.” The Federation contributed to VicGrid’s benefit-sharing consultation process,…

Statewide Treaty is a proud moment in history and a significant step forward for the Aboriginal community-level decision-making that will close the gap and ensure all Victorians have the same opportunities to live happy, safe, healthy lives.

The Victorian Government is selling out Traditional Owner rights for a few hundred tonnes of shellfish, and must immediately commit to a Traditional Owner-led fisheries strategy if it’s serious about fair Treaty-making.

A new Federal Government approach to working with First Nations communities as “economic decision-makers” reconnected to “the wealth of their land and waters” is a welcome and important change, says the statewide body that advocates for the rights and interests of Victorian Traditional Owner groups – but must not leave behind groups without recognised native title or ignore the Victorian research outlining a Traditional Owner-led pathway to economic justice.

The Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations welcomes today’s historic native title consent determination for the First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee, which includes Latji Latji, Ngintait, and Nyeri Nyeri peoples with ancestral connections to north-west Victoria.

The truth of land dispossession laid out by Victoria’s historic truth-telling inquiry clearly demonstrates the central role to be played by Traditional Owner groups in a just and reconciled future.

A statement on the Federation’s leadership from Board Chairperson, Cassandra Lewis.

The Victorian Budget’s commitments to truth, Treaty and self-determination for First Nations communities can only be delivered by sustained resourcing for Traditional Owner Corporations.