15/10/2025
The Aborigines Advancement League is the oldest continuing Aboriginal organisation in Australia and has been at the forefront of Aboriginal rights since 1957. As an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, we are on the ground, working directly with our people. We know what our communities are asking for because we hear it every day. They have been calling for a Treaty for generations.
The Liberal-Nationals say they want to listen to Aboriginal voices, so let us be clear: we want Treaty.
The Liberal-National position calls for more bureaucracy, but we are calling for real change and outcomes for First Peoples.
Treaty offers an opportunity to make lasting change and the First Peoples’ Assembly, elected by our communities, is leading that work. The Treaty negotiated by the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria is a breakthrough.
We’re ready to work alongside Gellung Warl to ensure that what’s written on paper becomes real change in our communities. ACCOs are already doing the work; now we need the systems around us to catch up. That’s how we’ll close the gap.
Self-determination means putting First Peoples in the driver’s seat of creating solutions. The Productivity Commission’s review confirmed what we already know: you’re going to get better outcomes when we’re involved in making policy about us. Bureaucrats don’t live our lives, we do. That’s why the Commission pointed to the Victorian Treaty process as a model that can close the gap.
We don’t need another government structure that talks down to us. What we need is for Gellung Warl to take our priorities to the parliament and hold governments accountable where they’ve consistently failed.
We call on the Liberal-Nationals to respect our collective voice and support Treaty.
Leigh Saunders
CEO
