Victorian government says compulsory land acquisition and reparations are still on the agenda
The Victorian government has not ruled out the possibility of transferring compulsorily acquired private property to Indigenous groups or establishing designated parliamentary seats for Indigenous members.
Treaty and First Peoples Minister Natalie Hutchins, speaking at the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee hearing about the stateâs treaty process, stated that various measures, including reparations, were still being considered.
Jacinta Allan is coming for your home.
â Netz Melbourne (@netz_melb) May 21, 2024
That's right, she has refused to rule out compulsorily acquiring private properties to gift to those who identify as indigenous Australians.
This is all part of her treaty and truth telling process for Victoria.#springst #BendigoBarbie pic.twitter.com/ufjygZzI7f
When asked if the government would exclude the possibility of dedicated Indigenous seats in the Victorian parliament ahead of treaty negotiations later this year, Hutchins responded that it was premature to make any determinations.
âAfter 200 years of colonisation, where this state took away lands in the settlement, murdered people, and took away culture and language, we are not going to be ruling anything in or out as we go to the negotiation table in regards to treaty,â she said.
However, she noted that this idea had not been specifically supported by Indigenous representatives.
Victoria State Treaty demands.
â Artemis MoonâđđŠđș (@Cynthia43259532) April 9, 2024
The Voice we said NO to. pic.twitter.com/D0sGXbtTdo
âThat has not been an expressed desire that has been put to me by First Nations people,â she said. âIn fact, I think they think that our places in the lower and upper houses here are actually quite aggressive places that they would rather not be a part of.â
Hutchins was also questioned about whether the government could transfer compulsorily acquired private land to Aboriginal groups or other entities but did not provide a definitive answer.
âThe focus that we have on Treaty is about building a new pathway going forward with Aboriginal people,â she said.
When pressed on whether a $41 million budget allocation to âenable increased Traditional Owner access to water and decision making in water managementâ would be used to purchase water for Indigenous groups, Hutchins deferred the question to Water Minister Harriet Shing, stating, âWe donât actually determine the percentage of funds that will be used to buy water.â
Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Peter Walsh, criticised the lack of concrete answers.
âWe should have received answers today, instead a Minister who is meant to represent the interests of Victorian Aboriginal people hid behind the âthatâs not in my portfolioâ excuse,â Mr Walsh said.

