A new analysis has revealed that the Victorian government has spent at least $382 million since 2016 on negotiating a statewide Indigenous treaty—with the final agreement yet to be signed.
The expenditure includes the establishment of the Treaty Authority, an independent body overseeing talks between the government and First Nations representatives. Salaries for Treaty panel members have reportedly reached $380,000 per year, alongside expenses.
Much of the funding has gone towards preparing Aboriginal groups for negotiations, public information events, and over 727 meetings held since 2016. If the current pace continues, the total number of meetings is expected to hit nearly 1,000 by mid-2026.
The Institute of Public Affairs, a conservative think tank, estimates the full decade-long cost of related “self-determination” initiatives exceeds $776 million, though the government has not confirmed this.
Critics, including IPA Research Fellow Margaret Chambers, argue that the government has lacked transparency and that the Treaty risks dividing the state on racial grounds. “Despite nearly a decade of secret meetings, little is known about what the final Treaty will contain,” she said.
The upcoming legislation will likely expand the First Peoples’ Assembly, effectively creating a state-based version of the Voice to Parliament, which was rejected in the 2023 national referendum.
The government maintains that Treaty negotiations are key to achieving a fairer and more inclusive Victoria.
