Thursday, 5 October 2023

Ministers statements: First Nations policies

Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Jobs and Industry, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Minister for Women) (14:21): I am so proud to stand here as Victoria’s new Minister for Treaty and First Peoples as well as Minister for Jobs and Industry and Minister for Women in the Allan Labor government. After serving as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in the first term of the Andrews government, I am really looking forward to once again being part of this critical work and getting the job done. I want to pay tribute to my predecessors former minister Gavin Jennings and Minister Williams for her commitment and for his commitment and determination to delivering for and improving the lives of Victoria’s First Nations people.

Today I will meet with the co-chairs of the First Peoples’ Assembly to progress the Premier’s commitments reaffirmed last week to support the desire to be heard here in Victoria by our Aboriginal brothers and sisters. I acknowledge the significant work of the First Peoples’ Assembly, Australia’s first democratically elected voice, and pay tribute to those that led that assembly in its first term. This government and this house set in place a commitment to work with the First Peoples’ Assembly five years ago, and they have fulfilled their obligations under legislation. I thank everybody, every member of that inaugural First Peoples’ Assembly, for their tireless dedication to this work and for leaving this legacy for Victoria. I look forward to working with the newly elected Assembly. The beneficiaries of this hard work will be not only our First Nations people and not only our littlest First Nations people but also all Victorians.