Victoria’s Treaty Bill and the evolution of lawmaking in a Westminster democracy

Victoria’s Statewide Treaty Bill (2025) is the first statewide treaty with Indigenous peoples in Australia. This article examines the institutional architecture to be brought about by the Bill, its key implications for lawmaking and public policy, and its significance as a model of good government. It argues that the Statewide Treaty framework enhances democratic legitimacy in Victoria, rectifying the absence of Indigenous contribution to laws and policy that affect First Peoples.<p></p>