Standing tall together
31 October 2025
Years of determined advocacy by Aboriginal leaders, communities and allies have led to a historic moment in Victoria. After more than a decade of work toward Treaty, the Statewide Treaty Bill has now passed through the Victorian Parliament, marking an important step for all First Peoples.
The Bill establishes a democratically elected body for First Peoples in Victoria, to be known as Gellung Warl, a Gunaikurnai word meaning tip of the spear. The name reflects strong leadership and the courage to move first, while carrying community with you.
Gellung Warl will be an independent statutory body that represents all First Peoples in Victoria. Its role is to provide leadership, offer advice to Parliament and the Victorian Government, hold government to account, support truth telling, and help progress further Treaties that strengthen outcomes for Aboriginal people and their communities. It ensures that First Peoples are not only heard but actively involved in shaping systems that affect our communities.
The Bill also includes a formal apology from the Victorian Government to First Peoples, along with a new school curriculum informed by the Yoorrook Justice Commission for students from prep to year ten. This will help young people learn the full story of this place and understand the deep cultural knowledge that has always been here.
Following the passage of the Bill, First Peoples and allies responded with pride and emotion. For many, this moment represents generations of work and the beginning of a new phase of shared responsibility. The next step is for the Victorian Government and the First Peoples Assembly to formally sign the Bill in the coming weeks.
“We stand tall with those who walked before us and those carrying the work today,” said GLaWAC’s representative on the First Peoples’ Assembly, Troy McDonald. Troy, together with democratically elected South East region representatives Brian Stevens, Alice Pepper and Peter Hood, has contributed important leadership on behalf of community.
This progress offers practical benefits for Gunaikurnai people. It strengthens our ability to speak for Country, to influence decisions about land and waters, support cultural renewal for our young ones, and to build stronger relationships with the broader Victorian community. It offers a clearer pathway for long term change grounded in Gunaikurnai voice, leadership and cultural authority.
“Your voices, persistence and integrity have helped guide Victoria toward this milestone,” Troy said. “Treaty is about listening, truly listening, to the voices of First Peoples and recognising that our cultures, rights and knowledge systems have always been part of this place.”
“Now is our shared opportunity to walk together on a stronger path forward, one built on truth, respect, understanding and a genuine commitment to doing things differently. Let’s keep listening, learning and standing tall together.”
