The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria has announced five of the reserved seat holders who will take up places on the representative body for its second term.
The assembly recently held an election for 21 elected seats, but 11 more seats are reserved for representatives from Victoria’s 11 Registered Aboriginal Parties.
One of those, the Taungurung Land and Waters Council, represents the interests of the Taungurung people and their country, which includes a large part of central Victoria, from the upper reaches of the Goulburn River and Mt Beauty in the east to Benalla in the north and the Campaspe River and Kilmore in the west.
TLaWC chief executive Matthew Burns will return as the council’s representative for a second term.
Other reserved seat holders include Rueben Berg (Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation), Aunty Donna Wright (Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation), Troy McDonald (Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation) and Djaran Murray-Jackson (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation).
Outgoing assembly co-chair Marcus Stewart, a Nira illim bulluk man of the Taungurung Nation, said he was impressed with the range of experiences and skills the new group of members will bring.
“Aboriginal people are the experts when it comes to what’s best for Aboriginal people, Mr Stewart said.
“That’s why it’s so important our people have this democratic and collective voice that is the First Peoples’ Assembly.
“It’s because we have a voice that we are now ready to take that next step towards Treaty and start putting decision-making power back in Aboriginal hands.”
The assembly’s second term will start next month in Melbourne when it elects new co-chairs and starts discussing plans for a statewide Treaty.