‘Decolonisation in action’: Victorian treaty negotiations to be overseen by independent authority

First Peoples’ Assembly co-chair, Marcus Stewart, says the creation of an independent authority ‘is about stepping outside of the colonial system’. Photograph: James Ross/AAP

Victoria is set to establish an independent authority to help oversee the nation’s first treaty negotiations between a government and First Nations people.

The minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Gabrielle Williams, will introduce the Treaty Authority Bill to parliament on Tuesday, after the government struck an agreement with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, the body elected by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to help develop a treaty framework.