Dear Member of Parliament,
As groups dedicated to meaningful reconciliation with Victoria’s First Peoples, we are deeply committed to Treaty for Victoria.
No one who heard the testimony given to the Yoorrook Justice Commission or read its findings can doubt that Treaty is the only possible next step for Victoria to take.
Yoorrook showed that the legacy of violence, discrimination and neglect which Aboriginal People have faced in Victoria since settlement continues to impact their health, welfare, education, socio-economic status and opportunities right to this day.
Attempted solutions to these issues by governments have not worked because they have not been informed by, led by or owned by Aboriginal Peoples. First People must make decisions on matters that affect them. Treaty will deliver this.
Treaty accepts the true history of our state. It will use this knowledge to guide policy and programs that will address equity and equality issues.
Treaty will unify Victoria by valuing and recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and heritage as a proud part of a shared identity.
It will ensure that our public and private institutions play their important roles in supporting First Peoples and can be held to account when they fail to do so.
Treaty should have happened when settlers first came to Victoria – it’s long overdue. By establishing Treaty, Victoria joins New Zealand, Canada and the United States as jurisdictions that have acknowledged their First Peoples’ prior occupation and spiritual connection with land through the establishment of treaties.
We acknowledge the tremendous courage and strength of generations of Aboriginal People in Victoria to resist the impact of colonisation. We acknowledge the tenacity, skill and hard work that went into producing this nation’s first truth-telling reports, into creating a highly effective First Peoples Assembly, and into negotiating the Treaty Bill that has recently been tabled in Parliament.
We urge all members of the Victorian Parliament to accept the pressing need for Treaty and the healing process that can only start when the Treaty Bill is passed.
This letter is supported by the following organisations:
Reconciliation Victoria
ANTaR Victoria
Allies Supporting Treaty Seymour
Amaze Incorporated
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
Bass Coast South Gippsland Reconciliation Group
Bendigo Reconciliation Committee
Binnap Partners Inc
Boroondara Reconciliation Network
Brigidine Southern Cross Community
Catholic Social Services Victoria
Concerned Australians
Convergence International Development
Darebin Solidarity with First Peoples
Disability Discrimination Legal Service
Eastern Community Legal Centre
EV Strengthening Communities’
First Nations Foundation
First Nations Justice Merri-bek
Friends of the Earth Melbourne
Gariwerd Wimmera Reconciliation Network
Geelong One Fire Reconciliation Group
Islamic Council of Victoria
Josephite Justice Network
Justice Action Maribyrnong
Kensington Neighbourhood House
Kensington Reconciliation Action Group
Macedon Ranges Truth & Reconciliation Group
Melbourne Unitarian Peace Memorial Church
Merri Food Hub Inc
National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth and Justice
New Message Tree Alliance Inc
Nillumbik Reconciliation Group
Pax Christi Victoria
Pernaperna Women's Group
Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation
Reconciliation East Gippsland
Reconciliation Stonnington
Settler Families Giving Back
Sisters of Saint Joseph Victoria- Tasmania
South West Reconciliation
Southern Peninsula Allies for First Nations
St Kilda & Balaclava Kindergarten
The Fred Hollows Foundation
The Satellite Foundation
Together For Treaty Deakin and Surrounds
Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania
Voices of Deakin
Whitehorse Friends for Reconciliation’
Yarra Ranges ANTaR
YLab
Your Community Health
Walking Together Mornington Peninsula
Reconciliation Victoria acknowledges the valuable support we receive from our funding partners.
