Treaty timeline

Community consultations were held across Victoria to seek the community’s guidance on how an Aboriginal representative body should operate.

The Victorian Treaty Advancement Commission began its operations in 2018, with Dr Jill Gallagher appointed as its Commissioner. The Commission led the delivery of recommendations on the design of the Aboriginal Representative Body.

Australia’s first Truth-telling Commission, the Yoorrook Justice Commission was established. ‘Yoorrook’ is the Wemba Wemba / Wamba Wamba word for ‘truth’. By establishing the Commission, the State committed to formally reckoning with past and ongoing injustices and laying the foundations for healing with all First Peoples in Victoria.

The Victorian Government and First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria made history with the opening of negotiations for Australia’s first Treaty. Dancing, speeches, ceremony and an exchange of gifts marked the commencement of Statewide Treaty negotiations at an event in Darebin Parklands in Melbourne’s northeast on Thursday 21 November 2024.

In June 2025, the Yoorrook Justice Commission delivered its final reports to the Co-Chairs of the First Peoples' Assembly and the Governor of Victoria.

On 1 July 2025, the final reports of the Yoorrook Justice Commission were tabled in Parliament, bringing to a close Australia’s first Truth-telling Commission, and the longest running Royal Commission in Victoria.

You can find out more about the Commissions's reports, recommendations and impact on the official Yoorrook website.

For the first time in Australia's history, a Treaty has been negotiated with First Peoples. Final agreement is subject to the Statewide Treaty Bill passing through Parliament and final assent by the State and the First Peoples' Assembly.

On 9 September 2025, the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025 was introduced into the Victorian Parliament. This Bill aims to give effect to what has been negotiated with the First Peoples’ Assembly, and to ensure all Victorians can see the full details of the better future we seek through Treaty.

You can read Victoria's Statewide Treaty online.

On Tuesday 14 October, Ngarra Murray and Rueben Berg, Co-Chairs of the First Peoples' Assembly, addressed the Lower House ahead of the debate, with the entire First Peoples' Assembly in the chamber. You can watch the address by Rueben Berg and Ngarra Murray here.

Following the address by the Co-Chairs, debate commenced in the Lower House on Tuesday afternoon. You can read the full transcript of the day here. The debate was an opportunity for Members of Parliament (MPs) to make speeches for or against a bill.

On Thursday 16 October, MPs voted on whether the bill should go to the next stage, and the majority of MPs voted in favour of the Statewide Treaty Bill.

The Victorian Government and First Peoples’ Assembly signed the Statewide Treaty at Government House on Thursday 13 November. Immediately following the ceremony, the Victorian Governor, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC gave the Statewide Treaty Bill Royal Assent.

Royal Assent means the Statewide Treaty Bill becomes law, and the Bill becomes an Act of Parliament.

Victoria's Statewide Treaty Act evolves the successful First Peoples’ Assembly as a body that can represent First Peoples and make decisions, within our existing Parliamentary and democratic structures. The Statewide Treaty will come into effect during a free public ceremony at Federation Square on Friday 12 December. You can find out more about the event here.