Aboriginal Victorians will shape how their representative body looks and works through a Community Assembly.
The Aboriginal Treaty Working Group today called for community members to be a part of the new Community Assembly, which provide recommendations to the working group as it designs the statewide body.
The Assembly will be modeled on the successful Geelong Citizens Jury, and Aboriginal Victorians over the age of 18 can apply to become members.
The Assembly will advise on what the representative body should look like, who can be elected to it and who should be able to vote in its elections.
The members of the Assembly will be independently chosen to ensure it is demographically representative of Aboriginal Victorians and it will meet over six days later this year.
Expressions of interest close on 6 October.
For more information on how to apply, visit communityassembly.com.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Natalie Hutchins
“The next step on the pathway to treaty is for Aboriginal Victorians to decide who should represent their community and who should negotiate a treaty on their behalf.”
“Self-determination is underpinning our approach to treaty and the Community Assembly aims to put the Aboriginal Victorian community at the heart of the decision making process.”
Quotes attributable to Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Treaty Working Group Jill Gallagher
“The Aboriginal representative body will give a unified voice for our mob in treaty discussion for now and into the futures. It is important that the community voice is at the heart of the design of the representative body.”
“The Aboriginal Treaty Working Group encourages Aboriginal Victorians to apply for the Community Assembly membership, together we must make that crucial step towards treaty our people.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020