Dear, Co-Chairs Geraldine Atkinson and Marcus Stewart,

As a Victorian Aboriginal person, I am very concerned at a number of discrepancies that have occurred in the journey towards Treaty in Victoria that have been actioned by you both and the Board of the Treaty Assembly.

The issues raised for immediate response and change are:

1. Name change of your Organisation:

Request: Please change the name of the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria to the First Peoples Treaty Assembly of Victoria.

Reason: This is your only Agenda in the lives of Aboriginal Victoria and it should remain so and clearly stated. Having such a broad name can confuse and mislead the Non-Indigenous Community and Victorian Government into believing that your work is for things other than the Treaty. In further, you both, as individuals through this Assembly within your Leadership capacities have failed to support and lead during this COVID-19 pandemic, so it remains so, that you should change your name as your work is not reflective nor justly in your endeavours for Aboriginal Victoria. I request that you change your name to reflect the true and only Agenda that you are implementing.

2. How were the Board Members voted into their power, whom voted for them and how much are they earning in their wage supported by The Victorian State Government?

Request: Please provide full details in how this process came to be, a summary of their wages and the length of the term that they each will serve on the Board. This includes your appointments to Co-Chairs. 

Reason:  I do not believe, as a community member, that your process was transparent and fair. I expect this email providing these details from you both, this week. 

3. Appointment of the CEO Andrew Gargett, a Non-Aboriginal Man:

Request: I request that his contract be terminated and for the position to be advertised again with full faith that you will receive applications from Aboriginal Victoria, for you both and the Board, to review transparently.  

Terminate the identified Deputy CEO role to save all unnecessary costs, expenses, funding and grants that is accrued within the Treaty Assembly.

Reinstate the CEO's role as an Aboriginal-Identified position. Re-advertise after the pandemic subsides. 

Reason: As an ally, he has broken the first rule of allyship, and that is - not to take the job of an Aboriginal person and enter into Aboriginal business without consent from the Community that he represents. I do not know Andrew, and I do not judge or dislike him but he has no business with the Treaty Assembly's Leadership, other than, to do what an ally does and to support in the background. 

4.  Treaty Assembly Work, Meetings, Facebook Live Streams and Board Meetings: 

Request: Postpone all Treaty Assembly activity until the COVID-19 lock down laws in the state of Victoria are lifted. 

Reason: It will be the wrong step to continue any work while our vulnerable people are struggling to make ends meet each day. I deem it necessary to remind you that your attention should be on our Community rather than pushing an Agenda. Please follow suit of all Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Organisations and create a financial fund to further equip and support the most vulnerable in our Community right now. 

5.  Wages of both Co-Chairs, Geraldine Atkinson and Marcus Stewart:

Request: I request a pay cut to your wage to $60,000 - $75,000.

Reason: No Aboriginal person should be taking advantage of wages given by the State and Federal Government. All funding and finances should be fully utilised for the care, healing and advancement of every black man, woman and child. 

Please take these five requests for CHANGE into consideration and implement at your earliest convenience.  

If you believe in one or more of these changes for a Review of the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria - please sign and share to your networks. 

WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED!
THE FUTURE IS OURS TO DECIDE!
CONSULTATION IS NOT CONSENT! 
SHARE, LIKE, SIGN AND CALL FOR THE CURRENT FIRST PEOPLES ASSEMBLY OF VICTORIA TO CHANGE THEIR PROCESSES WITH COMMUNITY CONSENT!