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Do They Represent Me?

Should Victoria repeal the 2025 law that put its Treaty with First Peoples into effect and created a permanent elected First Peoples' body?

Both houses · 3 votes

Background

The Statewide Treaty Bill 2025 put into law the Treaty negotiated between the State and the elected First Peoples' Assembly ("First Peoples" means Traditional Owners and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Victoria). It created Gellung Warl, a permanent body with an elected assembly that advises Parliament and government, can question ministers and must be consulted on matters affecting First Peoples, plus arms for monitoring government outcomes and truth-telling. It is independent of ministerial direction and has yearly funding set by law. The explanatory memorandum says it has no coercive powers (it cannot force anyone to act), that failing to consult it does not invalidate a law, and that Parliament's powers are not limited.

What each side said

Summarised from the debate in Parliament, with sources below.

For “agree”

Supporters of repeal said Gellung Warl sits outside normal accountability: it is not subject to ministerial direction and has guaranteed funding (Joe McCracken, Liberal, 28 Oct 2025), and "matters that affect First Peoples" is left undefined (Melina Bath, Nationals). The Coalition said "we will introduce legislation to repeal the bill in the first 100 days" (Melina Bath, 28 Oct 2025); the Libertarian and One Nation argued for equal treatment under the law (David Limbrick; Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell). The Shooters and Moira Deeming (now Family First) also voted on this side.

For “disagree”

Opponents of repeal said the Treaty gives Aboriginal people a say in services that affect them and "doesn't take anything away from anyone" (then Premier Jacinta Allan, ALP, second reading, 9 Sep 2025); they pointed to the explanatory memorandum: Parliament's powers are untouched, a failure to consult cannot invalidate a law, and Gellung Warl reports under the Financial Management Act. The Greens backed it as the result of years of work led by First Peoples (Ellen Sandell), and Animal Justice said "Closing the gap cannot be achieved without treaty" (Georgie Purcell). Legalise Cannabis also voted on this side.

How the parties voted

Across the linked votes below. Second and third readings count five times as much as other votes. Parties are in alphabetical order. How this is worked out

How each party voted across the linked votes
Party Record Votes with a party position
Animal Justice Consistently against 2 of 2
Greens Consistently against 3 of 3
Labor Consistently against 3 of 3
Legalise Cannabis Consistently against 2 of 2
Liberal Consistently for 3 of 3
Libertarian Consistently for 2 of 2
Nationals Consistently for 3 of 3
One Nation Consistently for 2 of 2
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Consistently for 2 of 2

The votes behind this question

Each vote (division) recorded in Parliament that this question is based on, in date order.

16 October 2025 · Legislative Assembly

Statewide Treaty Bill 2025

Question put
Question — That this Bill be now read a second time and a third time — put.
Result
Question agreed to. Ayes 54, Noes 27.
Matches “agree”
A No vote
Weight
Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
Why it's linked
Second and third reading (Assembly). Aye = support the bill; agree = No.
How each party voted on Statewide Treaty Bill 2025, 16 October 2025
Party Aye No Position
Greens 2 0 Aye
Labor 51 0 Aye
Liberal 0 19 No
Nationals 0 8 No

Independents, each counted on their own: Will Fowles (Aye)

Every name (Ayes 54, Noes 27) in the vote of 16 October 2025

Ayes (54)

Jacinta Allan, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D'Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Eden Foster, Will Fowles, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Katie Hall, Paul Hamer, Martha Haylett, Mathew Hilakari, Melissa Horne, Natalie Hutchins, Lauren Kathage, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, John Lister, Gary Maas, Alison Marchant, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Danny Pearson, Tim Read, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Ellen Sandell, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Emma Vulin, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Dylan Wight, Gabrielle Williams, Belinda Wilson

Noes (27)

Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Tim Bull, Martin Cameron, Annabelle Cleeland, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Sam Groth, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Emma Kealy, Tim McCurdy, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Bridget Vallence, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Nicole Werner, Rachel Westaway, Jess Wilson

Official record: Votes and Proceedings Nos 144 to 146 (LA-60-146-03)

28 October 2025 · Legislative Council

Statewide Treaty Bill 2025

Question put
9 STATEWIDE TREATY BILL 2025 — Debate resumed on the question, That the Bill be now read a second time.
Result
Question agreed to. Ayes 22, Noes 17.
Matches “agree”
A No vote
Weight
Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
Why it's linked
Second reading (Council). Aye = support the bill; agree = No.
How each party voted on Statewide Treaty Bill 2025, 28 October 2025
Party Aye No Position
Animal Justice 1 0 Aye
Greens 4 0 Aye
Labor 15 0 Aye
Legalise Cannabis 2 0 Aye
Liberal 0 12 No
Libertarian 0 1 No
Nationals 0 2 No
One Nation 0 1 No
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers 0 1 No
Every name (Ayes 22, Noes 17) in the vote of 28 October 2025

Ayes (22)

Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Shaun Leane, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Harriet Shing, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Sheena Watt

Noes (17)

Melina Bath, Jeff Bourman, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, David Limbrick, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Richard Welch

Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 137, 138 and 139 (LC-60-137-01)

30 October 2025 · Legislative Council

Statewide Treaty Bill 2025

Question put
Lizzie Blandthorn moved, That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.
Result
Question agreed to. Ayes 21, Noes 16.
Matches “agree”
A No vote
Weight
Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
Why it's linked
Third reading (Council). Aye = support the bill; agree = No.
How each party voted on Statewide Treaty Bill 2025, 30 October 2025
Party Aye No Position
Animal Justice 1 0 Aye
Greens 4 0 Aye
Labor 14 0 Aye
Legalise Cannabis 2 0 Aye
Liberal 0 11 No
Libertarian 0 1 No
Nationals 0 2 No
One Nation 0 1 No
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers 0 1 No
Every name (Ayes 21, Noes 16) in the vote of 30 October 2025

Ayes (21)

Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Shaun Leane, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Sheena Watt

Noes (16)

Melina Bath, Jeff Bourman, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, David Limbrick, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Evan Mulholland, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Richard Welch

Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 137, 138 and 139 (LC-60-139-01)

Sources

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