Treaty on election ballot as opposition vow 'tear down'

A historic treaty moment for Indigenous Australians has been overshadowed by an election pledge to unceremoniously dump it.

Victoria's opposition has promised to move to repeal the Australian-first statewide treaty within 100 days if elected to office in November 2026.

The announcement came just minutes before the state Labor government introduced a bill to enact the treaty.

The legislation would write a permanent Aboriginal advisory and decision-making body into law but keep it outside the state's constitution.

To mark the occasion, First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria co-chairs Ngarra Murray and Rueben Berg addressed the lower house after a smoking ceremony on the front steps of parliament.

"Our people will no longer tolerate being the political football that politicians kick around