We’re ready for Treaty. Are you?

Hey Mob!

We’ve had the great honour of being the Co-chairs of the Assembly for just over a year now.

It’s been a learning experience, but an incredibly rewarding one and we’re very proud to provide this report on everything that’s been accomplished – with your deadly guidance!

This last year has been all about listening to Community.

Along with all the elected Assembly Members and our engagement team, we’ve been out having the yarns and gatherings across the whole state. Collecting the ideas, hearing about the needs, hopes and shared aspirations about what life with Treaty will look like and how you want it to help improve the lives of our people.

From our big Statewide Treaty Gathering to the many regional ones. From flagship events like Treaty Day Out to the many intimate yarning circles we’ve put on – the most important thing to us, has been making sure Community has plenty of opportunities to stay up to date with the work and plans of the Assembly and that people know they can always have their say.

No matter how big or small, every contribution we receive from community members will help shape Treaty and our future.

Working with all of the elected Assembly Members, we’ve started to distil the ideas into key concepts and identify common priorities that we can take into Treaty negotiations (you’ll find more info in the full report, linked below).

There’s one consistent thread in all that we hear.

It’s clear to us that we need to put decision-making power back in the hands of our mobs.

That is our guiding principle.

When it comes to First Peoples’ matters – whether it be our cultures, our sacred sites and heritage, our languages, our lands and waters, our communities – the experts are of course First Peoples.

This is why the Treaty Negotiation Framework seeks to empower our communities with the power and tools to come up with practical solutions at a local level.

Traditional Owners will be able to negotiate Treaties that reflect the priorities and aspirations on their Country. And they can now access support from our Self-Determination Fund to start preparing for that process.

Meanwhile, the Assembly is gearing up to negotiate a Statewide Treaty to tackle big picture structural reform at a statewide level. We’ve notified the Treaty Authority – the independent umpire in the process – that we’re ready to sit down with the Premier and start negotiating this Statewide Treaty.

So now, more than ever, we’re going to need more of your ideas and feedback.

And mostly importantly, we’re going to need your support. We need you to keep the fire burning!

In the Assembly, our mobs have staunch advocates that will do them proud. And when we all stick together and speak with a united voice, we are strong and we are deadly.

So yes, we’ve had a year packed with many cups of tea over hundreds of yarns, but we know there are many more to come – and we’re looking forward to it!

Whether you’re an Elder, a young fulla or someone who’s passionate about our people, we’re confident you have a role to play in this Treaty we’re making.

Wurruk — Rueben Berg
Booyen — Ngarra Murray