The First Peoples Assembly of Victoria, the state’s democratically elected First Nations representative body, and the Victorian government have been negotiating the treaty for almost a year.

The final bill proposes that the Assembly be consulted by government departments on laws affecting the state’s Indigenous population, and for it to make its own decisions and rules about specific matters affecting First Nations peoples.

“Under Treaty, Government must speak with us when making laws, rules or policies about us.”

The Assembly will also “form an independent accountability mechanism” relating to the National Closing the Gap initiative.

While the presumed passage of the bill will bring to a close the statewide treaty process, local treaties between Traditional Owner groups, covering their Countries and communities, still remain.