Victoria's Treaty Test: Elections & One Nation

0:00On March 20th, here's the latest out of Sydney. Victoria's historic treaty with its first peoples is facing a major test in this November's state election. The coalition has pledged to scrap the agreement within 100 days of taking power, while one nation gains ground with anti-Indigenous views. In Garamory, who co-chaired the first people's assembly and helped negotiate the deal last year, says voters have nothing to fear from it. Elections for a new assembly kicked off this Saturday, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria voting for representatives. Gellung Warrow, the new governance body, starts on May 1st. Murray served seven years on the assembly, but is stepping down to focus on family, including her four kids. Murray expressed disappointment after meeting opposition leader Jess Wilson, whose party worries the treaty expands powers too much. She points to broad support from unions and multicultural groups, ready to mobilize before the election. In Queensland, a new government already acts the similar truth-telling process.

1:01The treaty process began in 2018, with enabling laws and the Uruk Justice Commission's report on colonial history. Murray links one nation's rise to racism spiked by last year's failed federal voice referendum, calling it the worst she's seen. Her family has pushed for treaty for generations, from her grandfather's letter in 1988, to relatives running in the elections. With 81 candidates for 22 seats and polls open until April 12th, Murray sees hope and young leaders stepping up. No matter the election outcome, she believes the dialogue with first peoples will continue and help heal the state.