The Treaty Authority gives notice, under clauses 9.4(a) 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:
| Traditional Owner Group | Wamba Wemba Aboriginal Corporation |
| Country | Wamba Wemba Traditional Country spans the north-west of Victoria and the south-west of New South Wales, extending across the Murray River and encompassing the lands, waters and cultural landscapes that have sustained Wamba Wemba People for countless generations. The Wamba Wemba Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) area, recognised under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic), represents only a portion of Wamba Wemba Traditional Country. Wamba Wemba Aboriginal Corporation intends to negotiate a Treaty within the area for which it has recognised status in Victoria. The Treaty Negotiation Area does not encompass the full extent of Wamba Wemba Country, nor does it limit Wamba Wemba People’s continuing cultural, historical and traditional connections across their broader Traditional Country. Wamba Wemba Aboriginal Corporation enters the Treaty Authority Negotiations Database on behalf of Wamba Wemba People to pursue Treaty negotiations that recognise and advance the rights, interests, culture and self-determination of Wamba Wemba Traditional Owners within the registered negotiation area. |
Wamba Wemba Aboriginal Corporation was entered onto the Negotiations Register on 26 August 2026. The relevant Negotiations Register entry may be accessed here.
Date: 28 August 2026
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
- 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 Wamba Wemba meets the Minimum Standards is a matter for the satisfaction of Wamba Wemba (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.
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
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].
