The Treaty Authority gives notice, under clauses 9.4(a) and 10.2(d)(ii) of the Treaty Negotiation Framework, that it has:
- entered the following Traditional Owner Group onto the Negotiations Database (known as the Negotiations Register) for the purposes of Traditional Owner Treaty negotiations with the State of Victoria; and
- received notification from the Traditional Owner Group of its intention to form a Delegation for a Treaty in respect of certain land and waters described in this notice; and
- the process of self-determined collective agreement-making to form a Delegation outlined in clause 10.3 of the Treaty Negotiation Framework will begin no earlier than 18 December 2025.
ENTRY OF BIDWELL MAAP ONTO THE NEGOTIATIONS REGISTER
| Traditional Owner Group | Bidwell-Maap |
| Country as described by Bidwell-Maap | Bidwell-Maap Country is to the east of the Snowy River, bounded by the sea to the south, and east of the Murray River in the north. Gunaikurnai, Ngarigo peoples, Dhudhuroa and Jaithmathang are our neighbours. On our Country are various pristine coastal beaches, forests, including Croajingalong National Park, and the iconic Snowy River. |
Bidwell Maap was entered onto the Negotiations Register on 12 November 2025. The relevant Negotiations Database entry may be accessed here.
Date: 18 November 2025
HOW TRADITIONAL OWNER GROUPS ARE ENTERED ONTO THE NEGOTIATIONS REGISTER
Entry onto the Negotiations Register is the first step for Traditional Owner Groups seeking to commence negotiations for a Traditional Owner Treaty with the State of Victoria.
The Treaty Negotiation Framework outlines the process for Traditional Owner Groups to be entered onto the Negotiations Register.
To be entered onto the Negotiations Register, a Traditional Owner Group must (clauses 8.1 and 9.1, Treaty Negotiation Framework):
- satisfy the Minimum Standards set out in clause 8.3 of the Treaty Negotiation Framework; and
- record a decision of that Group to enter into Treaty negotiations; and
- provide a notification to the Treaty Authority confirming these and other matters.
The Minimum Standards are certain threshold requirements a Traditional Owner Group must meet to enter into Treaty negotiations. The Minimum Standards relate to:
- Land and Waters
- Community
- Leadership
- Inclusivity.
As a Traditional Owner Group without Existing Status, whether Bidwell Maap meets the Minimum Standards is a matter for the satisfaction of Bidwell Maap (clause 8.4(c), Treaty Negotiation Framework). This is consistent with the principles of self-determination and empowerment that underpin the Treaty process.
COMMENCING NEGOTIATIONS
There can only be one Traditional Owner Treaty that covers any particular part of the State, which is negotiated by a single First Peoples’ Treaty Delegation (clause 10.1, Treaty Negotiation Framework). A Delegation will be formed through a process of self-determined collective agreement between all Traditional Owner Groups on the Negotiations Register for the relevant Country (clause 10.3).
To begin the formation of a Delegation, a Traditional Owner Group on the Negotiations Register must notify the Treaty Authority of its intention to form a Delegation and identify the Country over which it intends to negotiate a Treaty (clause 10.2(a), Treaty Negotiation Framework).
Once a Delegation has been formed and entered onto the Negotiations Register, that Delegation is ready to commence negotiations with the State of Victoria.
LAND AND WATERS OVER WHICH A DELEGATION MAY BE FORMED
Bidwell-Maap has notified the Treaty Authority of its intention to form a Delegation for a Treaty in respect of the following land and waters:
Bidwell-Maap Country is to the east of the Snowy River, bounded by the sea to the south, and east of the Murray River in the north. Gunaikurnai, Ngarigo peoples, Dhudhuroa and Jaithmathang are our neighbours. On our Country are various pristine coastal beaches, forests, including Croajingalong National Park, and the iconic Snowy River.
COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT TO FORM A DELEGATION
On or after 18 December 2025, Bidwell Maap must confirm with the Treaty Authority the land and waters over which the Delegation will negotiate a Treaty.
Once that confirmation is received, all Traditional Owner Groups on the Negotiations Register for any part of the confirmed area of land and waters must begin the process to reach collective agreement to form a Delegation (clause 10.3, Treaty Negotiation Framework).
Collective agreement-making is a self-determined process in which all relevant Traditional Owner Groups will decide certain key matters relating to the Delegation. This includes the subject matter of Treaty negotiations, leadership arrangements and inclusivity arrangements.
The Treaty Authority will provide support and guidance to Traditional Owner Groups through that process.
CONTACT US
The Treaty Authority encourages First Peoples whose Country includes some or all of the land and waters described in this notice to contact the Treaty Authority for information about the Treaty process.
If you have questions about this notice, please contact the Treaty Authority on 1300 133 033 or email us at [email protected].