Treaty could make people ‘feel more divided’, Victorian opposition leader says, as Coalition withdraws support

Victorian opposition leader John Pesutto says he does not believe a treaty would ‘work’. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

The Victorian opposition leader, John Pesutto, has refused to say when the Coalition decided it would withdraw its support for a treaty with the state’s Indigenous people, ending years of bipartisanship on the issue.

Pesutto on Monday told reporters the Coalition had discussed the issue internally and with stakeholders “on an ongoing basis for many months” before deciding to change its position.