First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria
{{Short description|Elected organisation for First Nations People}}
The First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpeoplesvic.org/|title=TREATY FOR VICTORIA | First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria|website=First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria}} is an independent and democratically elected body representing Traditional Owners and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Victoria, Australia. The Assembly is responsible for establishing the framework and ground rules to enable Traditional Owners to negotiate Treaties{{Cite news |last=Ore |first=Adeshola |date=2022-10-19 |title=Historic deal struck to begin Victorian treaty negotiations with First Nations groups |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/20/historic-deal-struck-to-see-victorian-treaty-negotiations-with-first-nations-groups-begin-next-year |access-date=2025-03-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} with the Victorian Government.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-27 |title=Pathway to Treaty |url=https://www.firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au/treaty-process |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=www.firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au |language=en-au}} Negotiations for the Statewide Treaty are currently underway.
Membership
The Assembly comprises 33 Members{{Cite web |title=First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria {{!}} TREATY FOR VICTORIA |url=https://www.firstpeoplesvic.org/the-assembly/ |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria |language=en-AU}} chosen by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities throughout Victoria. The inaugural election was held in October 2019.{{Cite news |last=Allam |first=Lorena |date=2019-04-11 |title=Victoria a step closer to Indigenous treaty with creation of First Peoples' Assembly |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/apr/11/victoria-a-step-closer-to-indigenous-treaty-with-creation-of-first-peoples-assembly |access-date=2025-03-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Elections are held every four years. The Assembly includes both general seats, filled by Members elected by communities in specific regions, and reserved seats for representatives from particular Traditional Owner groups. Any Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who has lived in Victoria for at least three of the last five years is eligible to enroll with the Assembly.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-05 |title=Establishing a representative body for Aboriginal Victorians |url=https://www.firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au/advancing-victorian-treaty-process-annual-report-2019-20/establishing-representative-body-aboriginal-victorians |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=www.firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au |language=en-au}}
Functions
The Assembly's primary function is to represent Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Treaty negotiations with the Victorian Government.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-17 |title=Treaty for Victoria |url=https://www.firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au/treaty |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=www.firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au |language=en-au}} The Assembly negotiated the creation of the Yoorrook Justice Commission,{{Cite web |date=2025-01-14 |title=Victorian Government Implementation Progress Report: Yoorrook for Justice - October 2024 |url=https://www.firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au/yoorrook-for-justice-implementation-progress-report-oct-2024 |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=www.firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au |language=en-au}} an independent and formal truth-telling process into historical and ongoing injustices experienced by First Peoples in Victoria.