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Victoria moves ahead with its own Voice to Parliament

30 June, 2025

Victoria is on track to create a state-based version of the Voice to Parliament, as the Allan government seeks to entrench the First Peoples’ Assembly in legislation and significantly expand its role.

The move comes despite the rejection of the national Voice proposal in last year’s referendum, where 54.15% of Victorians voted No.

Under the proposed reforms, the Assembly—established in 2018 by former Premier Daniel Andrews to represent Indigenous Victorians in Treaty negotiations—would become a permanent, taxpayer-funded body with the authority to advise on all laws and policies affecting Indigenous communities. These areas include health, education, law and order, and child protection.

Premier Jacinta Allan, alongside Assembly co-chairs Rueben Berg and Ngarra Murray, said negotiations had advanced on ensuring Indigenous Victorians could have a say in shaping their futures. While the government has not yet revealed the full extent of the Assembly’s new powers, a committee will be established to monitor spending and assess progress on Closing the Gap targets.

Supporters claim this is a vital step toward self-determination. Gunditjmara Elder Aunty Jill Gallagher defended the move, saying Indigenous people need a strong, independent voice to hold governments accountable. “If Victorians fully understood what we were asking for last year, they might have voted Yes,” she said.

Critics, including Warren Mundine of the national No campaign, have labelled the initiative “undemocratic,” arguing it ignores the referendum result. “It’s the nonsense of it all,” Mundine said.

Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins stressed the assembly’s expanded role in advocating for better outcomes. “If you listen to the people directly affected, you get better policies—that’s just common sense,” she said.

The assembly currently has 33 elected members and oversees a $65 million Self-Determination Fund. It is subject to oversight by Victorian integrity bodies, including the Auditor-General and the Ombudsman.

While the Assembly will not have veto power over legislation, the scope of its advisory function remains under negotiation. Supporters say it resembles the failed national Voice but is being shaped with state-specific input and objectives.

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