MEDIA RELEASE
Victorian environment groups have written a joint letter to Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan and leading government ministers welcoming Australia’s first ever Treaty with Indigenous people, and committed to standing alongside First Peoples on the journey to Treaty in Victoria.
‘As organisations that are committed to a healthy environment and a fair, sustainable society, we must play our part in righting the wrongs of the past and creating a better future together,’ says the joint letter, signed by 22 leading climate and environment groups.
Environment Victoria CEO Jono La Nauze said
“This is a truly historic moment that creates an opportunity for all of us to walk together on this beautiful land, whether we’ve been here for one generation or one thousand’
“That means accepting the truth about how First Peoples have been treated and supporting their right to determine their own future through the statewide Treaty and making permanent the First Peoples' Assembly under a new authority called Gellung Warl.”
Friends of the Earth campaigns co-ordinator Cam Walker said
“The tabling of Treaty legislation in parliament marks a historic moment for the state of Victoria. It is clear that there is strong community support for Treaty, and the environment and climate action movements have publicly backed the process through the release of a public statement.
“Treaty will profoundly change how public land is managed in Victoria and the environment movement is committed to working with First Nations organisations to support their aspirations for Country and ensure thriving ecosystems and for future generations.
“It is distressing that the Liberal and National parties have decided to be on the wrong side of history by opposing the Treaty process. We urge them to reconsider their opposition and join the mainstream push for proper recognition of First Nation peoples.”
The letter has been signed by leading national, state and local organisations including The Wilderness Society, the Australian Conservation Foundation, Victorian National Parks Association, Friends of the Earth and Environment Victoria.
Open letter to the Victorian government
We are proud to stand alongside First Peoples on the journey to Treaty in Victoria. It’s time to accept the truth about how Aboriginal people have been treated, heal injustices, and commit to a fairer society.
We welcome your government’s commitment to uncovering the truth about occupation, through the Truth telling process led by the Yoorrook Justice Commission and the commitment to deliver the first ever Treaty in Australia with First Nations Peoples.
Treaty is about unity and building a better future together. The completion of negotiations between the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria and the government of Victoria is a historic moment for our state, and all of Australia. Calls for Treaty date back decades - and we commend the work of the Assembly and your government in responding to that call.
When it comes to what works for First Peoples’ communities, cultures and lands, the experts are, of course, First Peoples. With profound respect for the sovereignty, culture, and rights of First Peoples, we’re proud to walk with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria on the journey to Treaty.
As organisations that are committed to a healthy environment and a fair, sustainable society, we must play our part in righting the wrongs of the past and creating a better future together. That means accepting the truth about how First Peoples have been, and are, treated while supporting their right to determine their own future. Treaty, and an evolved representative body working alongside Government is the way that the Aboriginal Community in Victoria has chosen to enact this.
Treaty offers us the opportunity to continue to centre stories of strength, support and truth in our work, as outlined in the Yoorrook Justice Commission report. We know that when we listen to First Peoples, nature thrives. We have seen examples of this through work on cultural burning following the devastating bushfires in Victoria in 2020, in jointly managed parks and reserves, as well as the need for water justice in Murray Darling work.
In supporting Treaty, we commit to continuing Yoorrook’s Truth-telling in our work, continuing to centre First People’s voices and aspirations and priorities for the health of Country, honouring 60,000+ years of knowledge, culture and language. We will continue to mobilise our supporters to keep supporting Treaty in communities around Victoria.
The past can’t be changed, but by facing the truth and choosing a better way forward, we can shape a future grounded in justice. This journey must be led by First Peoples, but it’s a journey we all support.
Signatories
350 .org Australia
Gippsland Climate Change Network
Australian Youth Climate Coalition
Friends of Latrobe Water
Victorian National Parks Association
The Wilderness Society
Australian Conservation Foundation
Latrobe Valley Sustainability Group
Preserve our Forests Mirboo North
Gippsland Environment Group Inc. (GEG)
Darebin Climate Action Now
The Nature Conservancy
Friends of the Earth
Environment Victoria
RE Alliance
OCEAN
Victorian Forest Alliance
Conservation Ecology Centre
Wildlife Wonders
Southern Otways Sustainable
Wooragee Landcare Group Inc
Surfrider Foundation Australia
Climate Action Team - Colac Otway