Understand
Discover the damaging effects of the Aboriginal Treaty on Victorian society and why and how we must campaign against it.
The
fundamental
principles
that …
1. All races are equal in Victoria’s democracy.
2. Only one sovereign authority should exist – and that is the democratically elected Victorian government.
2. Only one sovereign authority should exist – and that is the democratically elected Victorian government.
3. Self-determination of all people should be achieved through the processes of parliamentary representative democracy.
What are the REASONS we should STOP TREATY?
Current Legal Frameworks Work
Existing legal frameworks address the rights and needs of all citizens, including Indigenous peoples, and that a separate treaty will undermine this.
Creates Division
Treaty will create divisions by granting certain rights to one group of people over others, leading to a sense of inequality amongst different Indigenous groups and non-Indigenous citizens.
State Unity
Unity amongst all Victorians is important. A treaty will lead to separateness rather than togetherness.
Economic and Resource Management
A treaty will impact democratic management of land and water and other resources and thus negatively impact the economic prosperity of the State.
Practicality and Priority
Given the huge long-term costs of a treaty it is questionable whether it should be a priority compared to other pressing issues facing Victoria.
Governance
Our democratic governance structures have served all Victorians well and a treaty will damage those structures.
Sovereignty
A treaty will establish two sovereign states within Victoria and divide the management of resources and the people based upon race and hereditary.
Legal Precedent and Complexity
Treaty will introduce legal precedent and complexity into the legal system, leading to lengthy and complicated legal disputes.
Social Cohesion
Separate treaties with distinct groups within Victoria will foster feelings of separatism or ‘us versus them’ mentalities between non-indigenous and indigenous groups.
Political Stability
Treaties are destabilizing over the long term (separate sovereignty) due to the fundamental changes they introduce to the State’s political landscape.
Historical Closure
The very presence of a Treaty opens Aboriginal perceived historical wounds., whether based upon fact or narrative. Society should focus on moving forward installing perpetual; legal structures that foster grievance.
International Relations
Treaties will affect Victorias relationships internationally, including trade agreements and alliances, especially if sovereignty issues are at play.
Social, Legal and Economic Integration
All citizens should be subject to the same laws and governmental processes, without separate agreements for different groups.
Fiscal Responsibility & Resource Allocation
Treaty has economic implications. Resource allocation should be determined by democratic means.
Equality vs. Equity
The value placed on equality (treating everyone the same) can sometimes be in tension with the concept of equity (addressing imbalances in society), the evidence shows the Equity imbalance in Victoria is small compared to e.g. the Northern Territory and can be addressed by other means without the significant long-term social and economic disadvantages caused by treaty.
Political disintegration
The purpose of Treaty is to provide sovereignty and self-determination of those sovereign states for Aboriginal groups. This will divide the people and affect the governance and administrative coherence of the Victoria.
ARE ABORIGNALS RECOGNISED IN VICTORIA?
The Victorian Constitution Act of 1975 states:
1A Recognition of Aboriginal people
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The Parliament acknowledges that the events described in the preamble to this Act occurred without proper consultation, recognition or involvement of the Aboriginal people of Victoria.
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2) The Parliament recognises that Victoria’s Aboriginal people, as the original custodians of the land on which the Colony of Victoria was established—
1A Recognition of Aboriginal people
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The Parliament acknowledges that the events described in the preamble to this Act occurred without proper consultation, recognition or involvement of the Aboriginal people of Victoria.
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(a) have a unique status as the descendants of Australia’s first people; and
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(b) have a spiritual, social, cultural and economic relationship with their traditional lands and waters within Victoria; and
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(c) have made a unique and irreplaceable contribution to the identity and well-being of Victoria.
(3) The Parliament does not intend by this section—
(a) to create in any person any legal right or give rise to any civil cause of action; or
(b) to affect in any way the interpretation of this Act or of any other law in force in Victoria.