A coalition of First Nations leaders, Elders and advocates has renewed its push for the Albanese Government to commit to a national treaty and truth-telling process while labelling some states as “hostile” to the notion. Source: ABC News.
More than 350 people gathered at the Together for Treaty National Summit in Melbourne yesterday, with Victoria praised for its introduction of treaty last year.
Conference organisers penned an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese which described “a unifying federal-level Treaty and truth-telling process” as critical.
“Many of the decisions that most affect First Nations peoples – including around Country, water, climate and cultural heritage – sit with the federal Government,” the letter read.
“Without a federal process, responsibility is fragmented and recognition remains inconsistent.”
Jackie Huggins is a board director for Common Threads, the First Nations-led organisation behind the conference, and the ABC’s Elder-in-residence.
Professor Huggins, a Bidjara and Birri-Gubbu Juru woman, said a federal treaty was “well overdue” and Victoria’s example was a powerful one.
“It’s happened here in Victoria. The sky hasn’t fallen down for us,” she said.
“That’s really important to note because we know that even with native title – when native title came to our country – the sky didn’t fall in with that.
The Albanese Government has been accused by some Aboriginal leaders of falling into “silence” after Australia voted against the introduction of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament during a 2023 referendum.
On Sunday a federal Government spokesperson said it would “continue working with First Nations people, states and territories to improve life outcomes, opportunities and justice” for Indigenous people.
Shadow Indigenous Australians Minister Julian Leeser, who was recently reappointed to the portfolio after vacating it due to his personal support for a Voice to Parliament, said the federal Coalition remained opposed to calls for treaty and truth-telling processes.
“We’ve never supported treaty and that’s because it’s been our position that a nation can’t have a treaty with itself,” Mr Leeser said.
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First Nations leaders call for federal treaty and truth-telling to follow Victoria’s lead (ABC News)
