Millions of Australians could get a new public holiday as part of negotiations for Victoria’s treaty

Victorians may soon receive a new public holiday to celebrate Indigenous culture, as part of ongoing negotiations for a statewide treaty.

The public holiday would commemorate the date when a treaty is signed and celebrate the diverse Indigenous cultures and languages of the state. 

Multi-clan traditional owner and First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria co-chair, Ngarra Murray, told the ABC the proposal was all about inclusivity. 

‘A day that’s all about inclusivity, so being able to celebrate all together as a community,’ Ms Murray said.

‘Because treaty is not just about people, it’s about all peoples that live here on our country.’

Negotiations on Australia’s first treaty with Aboriginal people are slated to begin between the Victorian government and First Peoples’ Assembly in November. 

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said that her government is determined to work towards a treaty.

As well as a Statewide Treaty there will be separate Traditional Owner Treaties in regions across Victoria to ensure ‘local knowledge can inform decision-making at a community level’. 

Victorian premier Jacinta Allan says her government is fully committed to implementing a Treaty

Although the Assembly said a negotiating brief had not been finalised or the powers of Aboriginal groups revealed, it made clear it expects to have substantial decision-making functions. 

‘We want a process and timeline for providing the Assembly with real decision-making powers on First Peoples matters,’ the First Peoples’ Assembly’s report said.

In addition, the Assembly will demand an advisory role to government on policies beyond those pertaining principally to Aboriginal people.

‘When decisions aren’t primarily about mob, but still impact us, we want the Assembly to be able to ensure that Victorian Government ministers and the public service get advice directly from First Peoples,’ the report said.

The Assembly will also seek ‘the power to hold the Victorian Government to account for its promises and the ability to scrutinise policies, practices and services to make sure they are up to scratch and delivering for mob’. 

The proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament, which was a step towards Treaty at a national level according to the Uluru Statement from the Heart blueprint, was soundly defeated in last year’s referendum.

Despite being backed by the federal government, the Yes vote failed to carry in any state, including Victoria, and was rejected by 62 per cent of voters nationally.

The First Peoples’ Assembly in Victoria is made up of 33 elected representatives from around the state