Understanding Victoria's Statewide Treaty Bill
View the recording of our webinar on the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025 (Vic), presented by the Australian Association of Constitutional Law in collaboration with the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law.
On Thursday 30 October 2025, Victoria made history by formalising the first Treaty between First Peoples and the State in Australia, with the Statewide Treaty Bill 2025 (Vic) passed before the Parliament.
The legislation establishes three public institutions in Victoria under a new authority called Gellung Warl. These include:
- The First People's Assembly - to make representations to Parliament and to represent First Nations Peoples in Treaty negotiations.
- Nginma Ngainga Wara - to monitor government policies and make recommendations to the First People's Assembly.
- Nyerna Yoorrook Telkuna - to act as a truth-telling body.
Learn more about the Statewide Treaty by catching-up on our webinar co-hosted with the Australian Association of Constitutional Law.
Hear from Rueben Berg (Co-Chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria), Professor Cheryl Saunders AO (Laureate Professor, Melbourne Law School) and Associate Professor Harry Hobbs (Faculty of Law and Justice, University of New South Wales) who provide an in-depth exploration of the legal implications and new institutions within Victorian public law.
Event Details
Understanding Victoria's Statewide Treaty Bill was first presented as a live webinar by Monash University.
Date: Wednesday 15 October 2025
Time: 1pm - 2:15pm AEST
Speakers
Professor Cheryl Saunders AO - Laureate Professor Emeritus, Melbourne Law School
Cheryl Saunders has specialist interests in Australian and comparative public law, including comparative constitutional law and method, intergovernmental relations and constitutional design and change. She is a President Emeritus of the International Association of Constitutional Law, a former President of the International Association of Centres for Federal Studies, a former President of the Administrative Review Council of Australia and a senior technical advisor to the Constitution Building program of International IDEA.
Associate Professor Harry Hobbs - Faculty of Law and Justice, University of New South Wales
Harry Hobbs is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law and Justice at the University of New South Wales. Harry's primary research interests are in public law and the rights of Indigenous peoples. He holds an ARC Discovery Early Career Research Award, where he is investigating Indigenous - State treaty-making in Canada and Aotearoa New Zealand to identify lessons for modern treaty-making processes in Australia. He has written widely on treaty in leading Australian and international law journals, as well as more broadly on constitutional law, legal reform, human rights, transitional justice, and international criminal law.
Rueben Berg - Co-Chair of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria
Rueben Berg is a proud Gunditjmara man, and a Co-Chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria (the Assembly). He sits on the Assembly representing the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation– a Traditional Owner group of south-western Victoria. The Country and Waters of the Eastern Maar stretch to Ararat and encompass Warrnambool, Port Fairy and areas of the Great Ocean Road. Rueben has strong connections to Thangang-poonart (Hopkins Falls) and the Framlingham Aboriginal community. As an elected Co-Chair of the Assembly, Rueben plays a pivotal role in representing the diverse voices and aspirations of First Nations communities in Victoria. With a deep commitment to advancing the rights and interests of First Nations people, Rueben is passionate about ensuring Treaty delivers Aboriginal communities the power and tools to develop and deliver practical solutions at a local level.
Professor Melissa Castan - Faculty of Law, Monash University
Melissa Castan is the Director of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, and Associate Dean (Staffing) in the Law Faculty. She has over 25 years experience teaching, researching and publishing in Australian Public Law, Constitutional law, Human Rights Law, Indigenous Legal Issues and Legal Education. Her most recent book is Time to Listen - An Indigenous Voice to Parliament with Professor Lynette Russell (2023, Monash University Press).
Professor Luke Beck - Faculty of Law, Monash University
Luke Beck is a Professor of Constitutional Law. He is also Associate Dean (Education) of the Faculty of Law. Luke is a leading scholar in the field of separation of religion and government and religious freedom under the Australian Constitution. He has also published on various other aspects of constitutional and public law, including misinformation in political advertising, referendum law and freedom of speech issues.