Apology to Aboriginal people turns political

CALLUM GODDE

A political fight is threatening to overshadow a historic apology to Aboriginal people for a state’s past mistreatment.

Premier Jacinta Allan will issue a formal apology in Victorian parliament  for laws, policies and practices that have contributed to injustices against Aboriginal people in the state.

Parliament has been recalled for a special sitting to hear the apology, which was recommended by the Yoorrook Justice Commission and committed to under Victoria’s Australian-first statewide treaty.

Premier Jacinta Allan will deliver a formal apology to Aboriginal people in Victoria’s parliament. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

The Victorian opposition is not supporting the apology as the wording mentions treaty, which it opposes and has vowed to repeal within 100 days if it wins the November 2026 state election.

Opposition Aboriginal affairs spokeswoman Melina Bath said the apology motion was provided to the coalition at 5pm on Monday and the premier refused its request to work together to change its wording.

“The premier is playing politics with this apology and it is deeply disappointing,” she said.

Melina Bath says Victoria’s treaty should not be referenced in a parliamentary apology. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Ms Allan said it was “unfathomable” for the opposition to claim treaty should be disassociated from the apology.

“You can only make this apology as a parliament, as a state because you’ve acknowledged the the truth of the past,” she said.

Legislation to enable the treaty with Aboriginal people passed parliament in October after terms were agreed to by the state Labor government and First Peoples’ Assembly.

Treaty journey

Yoorrook laid out the way forward to help right the wrongs of the past, assembly co-chair Rueben Berg said.

“Treaty is how we get there,” the Gunditjmara man said.

“Over the last decade, we have reset the relationship between First Peoples and government, and today’s apology forms part of this reset.

“This treaty journey has never been a straight line, and there will continue to be twists and turns, but through treaty we are building our collective power to make our own decisions and hold government to account to better outcomes for our people.”

Rueben Berg has praised improved relations between First Peoples and the state government. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

In 1997, Liberal premier Jeff Kennett apologised to Aboriginal people in parliament on behalf of all Victorians for past policies that led to the removal of their children.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd offered a formal apology to all Indigenous Australians, particularly the Stolen Generations, at Canberra’s Parliament House in 2008.

Truth-telling

The statewide treaty establishes Gellung Warl as a legislated, democratically elected body that must be consulted on laws and policies affecting Aboriginal Victorians.

Other measures include truth-telling in Victorian public schools, a process to rename geographic features with names considered offensive to Aboriginal people and a requirement for new legislation to be assessed for treaty compatibility.

Award-winning Indigenous artist Baker Boy will be one of the performers at the celebration. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

A public celebration will held on Friday evening at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena when treaty officially commences.

Baker Boy, Briggs, Missy Higgins and Yothu Yindi – the band behind 1991 protest song and anthem Treaty – are among artists slated to perform from 6.30pm to 9pm.

The public event was moved from Federation Square after an Amyl and the Sniffers concert was cancelled over safety fears.

AAP