We, the undersigned, firmly oppose the Treaty process currently underway in Victoria between the State Government and selected Aboriginal groups. This process, initiated under the Advancing the Treaty Process with Aboriginal Victorians Act 2018, is proceeding without the informed consent or mandate of the broader Victorian public.

In 2023, Australians were asked to vote in a national referendum on The Voice to Parliament—a proposal that would have enshrined a race-based advisory body into the Constitution. A clear majority of Australians, including a majority of Victorians, voted No. This outcome sent a powerful message: Australians want unity, not division. We want equality, not separate systems based on ancestry.

Despite this decisive result, the Victorian Government has forged ahead with the Treaty process, bypassing public consultation and democratic accountability. Taxpayer money is now being spent on a Treaty Negotiation Framework, a new Treaty Authority, and a Self-Determination Fund—all without a referendum or clear mandate from the Victorian people.

This Treaty process is not just about symbolic recognition—it is about transferring political power, land rights, and potentially billions in public funding to a select group based on heritage. It risks creating a two-tiered society and undermines the principle of equal treatment under the law. We believe all Victorians should be treated equally, regardless of background.

Moreover, this process promotes division rather than reconciliation. It separates people into categories based on race and entrenches grievance rather than fostering genuine unity. Many Aboriginal Australians themselves voted No in the national referendum, demonstrating that views within these communities are not monolithic.

We call on the Victorian Government to immediately pause all Treaty negotiations and associated funding until a statewide referendum can be held to determine whether this is truly the path Victorians want. We also urge our elected representatives to respect the will of the people expressed in the 2023 national referendum.

This is not about denying history—it is about ensuring our future is based on equality, fairness, and unity. No government has the right to divide Victorians without our consent.