Treaty

What is a Treaty? 

A treaty is a negotiated agreement between two (or more) parties and is only signed when all parties agree. Treaties are shaped by the cultural, social, political, and historical background that exists between the groups negotiating the treaty.

In Queensland, treaty will set the foundation for a shared future between Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and the Queensland Government, where all parties come together and negotiate a new way of working, to create positive relationships. It may result in one treaty or multiple treaties and is likely to take many years.

Where are we on the path? 

On May 10, 2023, the Path to Treaty Act 2023 (the Act) was legislated in Queensland Parliament with 88 of 92 Members of Parliament voting in favour of the legislation.

An historic piece of legislation, developed through a first-of-its-kind co-design process through the Interim Truth and Treaty Body, the Act provides the legislative framework for the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry and the First Nations Treaty Institute to be established.

The Inquiry is legislated to run for a period of three years, with the possibility of extension, to hear, record and document our shared histories and truths.

“This journey together will enrich the lives of all Queenslanders and provide for greater recognition, celebration and learning from First Nations peoples.

In Queensland we commit to be courageous, curious and optimistic as we hear the truth and collaborate in maturity to build the consensus necessary to establish treaties, to build a place where the world’s oldest living culture of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples is celebrated as central to the identity of all Queenslanders.”

- Queensland Government, Statement of Commitment, August 2022

What is the role of the First Nations Treaty Institute? 

The First Nations Treaty Institute will be an independent statutory body established to prepare and support First Nations Peoples in treaty negotiations by:

• Developing a treaty-making framework in consultation with the State
• Facilitating and supporting engagement in local truth-telling activities
• Implementing capacity building initiatives to support treaty readiness

The Institute will be governed by a ten-member Council (two co-chairs and eight members) all of whom will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

What Queenslanders have said about Treaty

Informed by statewide consultations in 2019, three major themes emerged that informs the work we are doing today to become treaty ready.

• Inclusion
  Treaty is a conversation for all Queenslanders, both First Nations people and nonIndigenous people.
• Reconciliation
  Truth telling and healing are at the heart of our journey towards treaty.
• Treaty ready
  First Nations people and their communities are informed about the treaty process, and have an equal seat at the table to negotiate a treaty or treaties