7 April @ 1100

Unfortunately we have to close off our coverage of the Statewide Treaty Gathering right now – the challenges of having only one journalist on the ground.

As mentioned previously, if you have questions about the Treaty process, don’t forget we can get the answers, so you’re encourage to contact us directly.

7 April @ 1045

”With Treaty in Victoria, everything is on the table,” Rueben said. “We expect to sign the first agreement in 2026 [but negotiations starting this year].”

Ngarra now at the microphone. Committing to ALL Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders across Victoria, including ACCOs and non-Traditional Owners living in Victoria.

”We’ll hold thousands of one-on-one conversations,” she said. “Well be guided every step of the way by community.”

“Following this Gathering we’ll be having regional and metro gatherings to dive deeper into the outcomes we know we need to achieve.” (We’ll be keeping you updated on where and when those regional and metro gatherings will be held.)

Ngarra is encouraging Traditional Owners to get back to their mobs and keep working on the process of getting ready for Treaty (negotiations).

Strong encouragement for mob to fill out the online survey (click here for the Assembly’s online survey).

”Today I call on each and every one of us to join us.”

7 April at 1035

FPAV Co-Chairs Ngarra Murray and Rueben Berg now on stage to talk about the Assembly’s plans, priorities and next steps towards a statewide Treaty.

Rueben enforcing that we are writing a new chapter here in Victoria. “Treaty is a right to be recognised.”

“Treaty is a tool for transformation relationship beteen state and Aboriginal people of Victoria. It will change the structure of power.

“One in which all our lives will be made better.”

”We must be very deliberate in how we negotiate treaty.”

Rueben now emphasising that Treaty must not just be for some but for ALL Aboriginal Victorians.

”We are moving into a Treaty era,” he has said. An era that will see many agreements being negotiated and penned between government (state and local) and Victorian Aboriginal community.

7 April @ 1025

Assembly member Djaran Murray-Jackson paid tribute to the work of Yoorrook and asking if other people similar to Susanna Henty (we’ll provide a link to more information on this later today) will be coming forward to tell their truth and essentially own up to the impact of their own families.

From Travis, Susanna Henty – 6th generation descendant of a settler widely blamed for atrocities and “the settlement of Victoria.”

“We’re encouraging more people with backgrounds similar to Susanna. This is one of the reasons we opened up our process.

“We have non-Aboriginal people across Victoria holding onto cultural sites and artifacts, and we want them to come forward as well.“

Final comment from Travis: “Whilst we’re underwhelmed with the government response [to our 46 recommendations], we will be holding accountability hearings to bring those responsible ministers back and asking questions about what’s being done through their own processes.”

7 April @ 1015

Question from the floor: “Considering government response to the recommendations from Yoorrook, what is the commission’s response, especially as you’ll be speaking directly to various ministers.”

Travis: “We are incredibly disappointed. We stand by the 46 recommendations. They’re all evidence-based and not anectode-based. We’ll continue to work alongside the Assembly and we will continue to push the government.”

Comments from the floor about RAP boundaries and mob(s) being genocided. Commissioner Lovett explaining that this is not part of the Yoorrook mandate, but the commission can definitely look into the processes that lead to this.

He also pointed to the Treaty Authority as possibly being able to look into this process.

7 April @ 1000

Travis talking about the Commission will be taking State Ministers and the Premier out on Country to hear from First Nations.

”Who better than the Minister for Water to take up to the Murray?” he quipped.

“We’ll work with the assembly on opportunities to establish a legacy body [for the Yoorrook] when we wrap up in 2025.

”We have a limited amount of time and there’s still a lot to be told.”

Travis is acknowledging that there may be frustration in community from members who have experienced delays in being able to come forward and tell their stories.

”We recognise this and we’re working on our internal systems,” he said.

From the floor – Jason Kelly (whose motion in the Assembly in 2020 initiated the formation of Yoorrook): “There are precedents for commissions to be ongoing [rather than wound up]. We need to ensure that this [Yoorrook] continues.”

7 April @ 0945

Bridget and Travis about the importance of language, with Travis paying tribute to a number of his Elders who have been at the forefront of resurrecting language.

Bridget asking about the effect of colonisation on language. Response from Travis talking about how people on the missions would be severely punished if they were caught speaking in language. He noted also that languages were currently not being funded by the State Government – something that must change.

In response to Bridget’s question about how the Commission has gained the trust of community in gathering evidence.

Getting out at talking to people face-to-face is one of the key things he spoke about, while paying tribute to the team of truth-receivers within Yoorrook. “But also through our recommendations back to government for them to take up.”

Travis also paid tribute to the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, working alongside Yoorrook and taking forward the recommendations being made by Yoorrook.

7 April @ 0930

This morning we’ll be hearing from Yoorrook Truth-telling Commissioner Travis Lovett about the stories, reflections, insights and solutions arising from the Yoorrook hearings.

Unfortunately we’ll only be covering the first two sessions today as I have to get back to Melbourne for a yarn on 3RRR – tune in at around 1:30 this afternoon. 🙂

There’s been a lot of interest from subscribers in our coverage, and we’re committed to extending our Treaty coverage here – and on another yet-to-be-announced platform) throughout 2024.

If you have specific questions or concerns about the Victorian Treaty process, use our Contact Form (here) and we’ll address them in our Treaty coverage and keep you posted when we deal with your question(s).