Victoria’s First Nations treaty authority could be replicated across Australia, experts say

Marcus Stewart (right), co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, during a public hearing of the Yoorrook Justice Commission. The Victorian government has tabled legislation to create an Indigenous treaty authority. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

Victoria’s Indigenous treaty authority will set a precedent that other states could replicate – but sufficient and independent funding is needed for it to succeed, legal experts say.

The Andrews government on Tuesday tabled the legislation that will create the authority, after an agreement was struck with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria – the body elected by the state’s Indigenous people to help develop a treaty.