ABORIGINAL community members will have an opportunity to gather as one at the MCG this week to be informed about the proposed model for the Aboriginal Representative Body and what are the next steps on the pathway to a treaty.
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The gathering will be entirely for Aboriginal people and will also include enrolling, running and voting procedures and give people another opportunity to have their say on the representative body model.
Victorian Treaty Advancement Commissioner Jill Gallagher said it was important Aboriginal communities could have their say in a non-threatening environment about the future treaty model
"The Treaty Statewide Gathering will bring us a step closer to treaty," Ms Gallagher said
"Aboriginal Victorians have driven the treaty process the whole way along and this gathering will be an opportunity for community to have their say on the proposed model for the Aboriginal Representative Body.
"Every Aboriginal person living in Victoria will be able to vote in the Representative Body elections in 2019.”
After the passing of the Advancing the Treaty Process with Aboriginal Victorians Bill in state parliament this year, Victoria is set to become the first state to enter into formal treaty negotiations with Aboriginal people.
The Bill does not specify who the treaty is with or what it will be about, rather it requires an independent Aboriginal Representative Body and the Victorian Government to work in partnership to facilitate future treaty negotiations.
Speaking to The Courier recently, Ms Gallagher said the commission is setting up a body of traditional owners - elected by Aboriginal people - as a voice for Aboriginal people going forward.
She said the representative body; “will also set up an independent umpire, and run a self-determination fund to allow communities to negotiate with the State of Victoria on an equal footing”.
The gathering for Aboriginal people only will be from 9am-4pm on Tuesday at the Members Dining Room at the MCG. Registrations can be made at treatystatewide2018.com.au/