politics
Victoria Holds First Elections for First Nations Treaty Assembly
Victoria is conducting its first elections for the First Peoples' Assembly, known as Gellung Warl, following the state's treaty with traditional owners in November. Candidates like Andrew Thorpe, son of Senator Lidia Thorpe, aim to represent their communities based on lived experiences. The assembly will advise the government on issues affecting First Nations people and implement treaty reforms.
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The First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, called Gellung Warl, is holding its inaugural elections to select representatives from five regions: metro, north-west, north-east, south-west, and south-east. More than 70 candidates, including Andrew Thorpe, are competing for these seats.
Thorpe, a Gunnai and Gunditjmara man with over two decades in the construction industry, recently left his job to campaign, stating he wants to contribute to changes benefiting First Nations communities.
Andrew Thorpe has a background in activism and family involvement in Aboriginal rights, with his mother, independent Senator Lidia Thorpe, and uncle Robbie Thorpe having advocated for these issues for years. He describes his participation as a way to "step up and be a part of it," drawing from his experience as a marathon runner and mental health advocate.
Thorpe facilitates first aid courses in mental health for First Nations people and is running in the south-east region.
The Gellung Warl assembly is a statutory body established through Victoria's treaty with traditional owners, signed in November. It does not have the authority to make laws but can question ministers, advise on government proposals affecting First Nations people, and oversee reforms from the treaty.
These reforms include updates to the history curriculum, grants for Aboriginal community infrastructure, dual-naming policies, and negotiations for local-level treaties between traditional owners and the state.
Victoria is the only Australian jurisdiction to have finalized a treaty, following the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017 and amid varied progress elsewhere. New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory remain in preliminary discussions, while Tasmania continues a truth-telling commission after abandoning its treaty process.
