Victoria passes Australia's first formal treaty with Indigenous traditional owners

Victoria, Australia, has passed the nation's first formal treaty with Indigenous traditional owners, empowering Aboriginal communities to shape policies affecting their lives. The statewide treaty bill, passed by the upper house, establishes the First Peoples’ Assembly as a permanent representative body to advise the government on matters concerning Indigenous peoples. This legislation marks Victoria as the first Australian state to adopt Voice, Treaty, and Truth, key pillars of reform advocated by Indigenous leaders in the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart.