2019 Victorian First Peoples' Assembly election facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
2019 Victorian First Peoples' Assembly election

16 September 2019 – 20 October 2019 Next →
21 seats elected 11 seats appointed
Registered	~30,000
Turnout	~2000 (7.0%)

In 2019, an important election took place in Victoria, Australia. This election was held to choose people to represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in a new group called the First Peoples' Assembly. This Assembly was created to help prepare for talks with the Government of Victoria about a special agreement, known as a treaty, with the Aboriginal people of Victoria.

Voting happened between 16 September and 20 October 2019. Only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who lived in Victoria and were at least 16 years old could vote. However, only about 7% of those who could vote actually did.

Why the Assembly Was Created

In June 2018, the Victorian Parliament passed a law. This law set up a way to talk about a treaty with Aboriginal people. A treaty is like a formal agreement between different groups.

The Labor Government and the Greens supported this law. However, the main opposition parties, the Liberal and National parties, did not.

The new law also planned for an Aboriginal group to represent their communities. A group called the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commission, led by Jill Gallagher, helped make this happen.

There was some disagreement before the vote. The government planned to expand the Western Highway near Ararat. This plan would disturb a cultural site with trees that are very important to local Aboriginal people. Protesters showed signs saying "no trees, no treaty" at Parliament House.

What the Assembly Does

The Assembly has 32 members. Most of these members were elected from five different areas in Victoria. For example, 9 members came from the Melbourne area.

Another 11 seats were set aside for officially recognized Traditional Owner Groups. These are groups of Aboriginal people who have a special connection to certain lands.

About 73 people put their names forward to be part of the Assembly. Around 30,000 people were able to vote. To vote, people had to sign up online and show proof of their identity, age, and where they lived.

Voting started on 16 September and finished on 20 October 2019. People could vote online, by mail, or at one of 43 voting places across Victoria.

Once the Assembly members were chosen, their main job was not to negotiate the treaty directly. Instead, they had three important tasks:

• To create the Treaty Authority: This group acts like a fair referee during treaty talks.
• To set up the Treaty Negotiating Framework: This group makes the rules for how treaty talks will happen. It also decides who can speak for different Aboriginal groups.
• To start the Self-Determination Fund: This fund helps Aboriginal communities have the same resources as the government when they are talking about treaties.

Election Results

The names of the 21 elected members were announced on 4 November 2019. Seven days later, the 11 people chosen by the Traditional Owner groups were also announced. These people filled the special reserved seats in the Assembly.

The First Peoples' Assembly met for the very first time on 10 December 2019. This meeting took place at Parliament House in Melbourne.

Elected members

Reserved seat holders

One seat was not filled. This was because the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation had the right to choose a member but did not. Some seat holders may have family connections to more than one First Nation.

See also

• Indigenous treaties in Australia