The Treaty Authority gives notice, under clause 9.4(a) of the Treaty Negotiation Framework, that it has entered the following Traditional Owner Group onto the Negotiations Register (called the Negotiations Database in the Treaty Negotiation Framework) for the purposes of Traditional Owner Treaty negotiations with the State of Victoria:
| Traditional Owner Group | Dja Dja Wurrung |
| Country | Dja Dja Wurrung Country (Djandak) extends from Mount Franklin and the towns of Creswick and Daylesford in the southeast to Castlemaine, Maldon and Bendigo in the east, Boort in the north, Donald in the northwest, to Navarre Hill and Mount Avoca marking the southwest boundary. The territory encompasses the Bendigo and Clunes goldfields and the Loddon and Avoca River watersheds. |
Dja Dja Wurrung was entered onto the Negotiations Register on 19 May 2025. The relevant Negotiations Register entry may be accessed here [Treaty Authority].
Date: 22 May 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 that a Traditional Owner Group must meet to enter into Treaty negotiations. The Minimum Standards relate to:
- Land and Waters
- Community
- Leadership
- Inclusivity.
Dja Dja Wurrung automatically satisfies the Minimum Standards, because they hold ‘Existing Status’ under the Treaty Negotiation Framework in relation to the area of land and waters included in their notification (clause 8.4(a), Treaty Negotiation Framework). Dja Dja Wurrung, represented by the Dja Dja Wurrung Aboriginal Corporation (DJAARA), has ‘Existing Status’ as a Traditional Owner Group entity that has entered into a recognition and settlement agreement within the meaning of the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 (Vic) (clause 8.2(b), Treaty Negotiation Framework) and as a Registered Aboriginal Party within the meaning of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic) (clause 8.2(c), Treaty Negotiation Framework).
On 15 May 2025, Dja Dja Wurrung notified the Treaty Authority that they satisfy the Minimum Standards and other relevant matters.
COMMENCING NEGOTIATIONS
There can only be one Traditional Owner Treaty that covers any particular part of the State.
Once a Traditional Owner Group is entered onto the Negotiations Register, it may begin the process of forming a First Peoples’ Treaty Delegation to collectively negotiate a Treaty in respect of an area of land and waters (clause 10.1, Treaty Negotiation Framework).
Forming a Delegation is a process of self-determined collective agreement between all Traditional Owner Groups entered onto the Negotiations Register in respect of the relevant Country (clause 10.3, 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.
The Treaty Authority will issue further notices when the Delegation formation process has begun.
CONTACT US
If you have questions about this notice, please contact the Treaty Authority on 1300 133 033 or email us at [email protected].