PUBLIC NOTICE:
The Treaty Authority gives notice:
- under clause 18.3(a) of the Treaty Negotiation Framework, that the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria has been entered onto the Negotiations Database as the First Peoples’ Representative Body for the purposes of Statewide Treaty negotiations; and
- under clause 18.4(a) of the Treaty Negotiation Framework, that the Comment and Dispute Period will begin today and will end on 17 September 2024. During this period, First Peoples may comment on, or raise a dispute about, whether the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria’s meets the Minimum Standards to be the First Peoples’ Representative Body.
Date: 17 July 2024
Statewide Treaty will be negotiated between the State of Victoria and a First Peoples’ Representative Body (Body). The Body will be the sole representative of First Peoples for the purposes of Statewide Treaty negotiations.
The Treaty Negotiation Framework sets out a process for identifying the entity to be entered onto the Negotiations Database as the Body. That process commenced on 3 July 2024, as set out in the public notice issued by the Treaty Authority dated 1 July 2024. In accordance with that process, the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria (Assembly) has notified the Treaty Authority that it seeks to be entered onto the Negotiations Database as the Body.
By this notice, the Treaty Authority provides public notice that the Treaty Authority entered the Assembly onto the Negotiations Database as the Body on 17 July 2024.
INVITATION TO FIRST PEOPLES TO MAKE A COMMENT OR RAISE A DISPUTE ABOUT THE ASSEMBLY’S SATISFACTION OF THE MINIMUM STANDARDS
The Assembly’s notification includes information about how the Assembly meets the Minimum Standards relating to Land and Waters, Community, Leadership and Inclusivity (clause 16.2, Treaty Negotiation Framework). The Assembly’s notification is available here.
The Treaty Authority has commenced a two-month Comment and Dispute Period, during which First Peoples may comment on or raise a dispute about Assembly’s satisfaction of the Minimum Standards. This process is facilitated by the Treaty Authority.
The Comment and Dispute Period begins on 17 July 2024 and closes at 5pm on 17 September 2024.
WHO CAN MAKE A COMMENT OR RAISE A DISPUTE
Only First Peoples can make a comment or raise a dispute about the Assembly’s satisfaction of the Minimum Standards. First Peoples means Traditional Owners of Country in Victoria and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples living in Victoria. First Peoples may make a comment or raise a dispute individually or through an organisation.
HOW TO MAKE A COMMENT OR RAISE A DISPUTE
The Treaty Authority cannot consider comments or disputes that are not from First Peoples.
First Peoples can choose whether to make a comment or raise a dispute. A comment or dispute may only be about the Assembly’s satisfaction of the Minimum Standards.
Before you make a comment or raise a dispute, please read the Treaty Authority’s Guide for First Peoples: Comment and Dispute Period for the Statewide Treaty.
To make a comment or raise a dispute, please use the online form available here.
THE PROCESS FOR MANAGING A COMMENT OR DISPUTE
Making a comment
If you make a comment in relation to the Assembly’s satisfaction of the Minimum Standards, the Treaty Authority will share the comment in full with the Assembly unless the comment:
- does not raise a substantive issue about the Assembly’s satisfaction of the Minimum Standards or
- is defamatory, offensive, trivial or vexatious, or has not been made in good faith.
The Treaty Authority will share the name of any organisation making a comment with the Assembly. If the comment is received from an individual, the Treaty Authority will only share the individual’s name with the Assembly with the consent of that individual.
The Treaty Authority will inform commenters if the Assembly provides a response.
Raising a dispute
If you raise a dispute, you undertake to participate in a process with the Assembly to resolve your concerns. The Treaty Authority will facilitate this process. The purpose of that process is to assist you to find common ground and reach agreement with the Assembly, if possible.
The process will be managed in accordance with the Treaty Authority’s Guide for First Peoples: Finding Common Ground to Resolve Disputes.
Confidentiality of your information
Except as provided above, the Treaty Authority will not share your comment or dispute with any person or organisation outside the Treaty Authority.
Cultural safety
Cultural safety is paramount. The Treaty Authority will not share a comment or facilitate a dispute if any part of it is defamatory, offensive, trivial or vexatious, or if it is not made in good faith. The Treaty Authority will not tolerate lateral violence.
MORE INFORMATION
Further information about the Comment and Dispute Period can be found here.
For more information about the Statewide Treaty, please visit our website: treatyauthority.au.
CONTACT US
The Treaty Authority strongly encourages First Peoples to participate in the Comment and Dispute Period.
If you need help to make a comment or raise a dispute, or have any other questions, please contact the Treaty Authority on 1300 133 033 or email us at [email protected].