Statewide Treaty
The Statewide Treaty Act 2025 (Act 45/2025) and its institutions (Gellung Warl — First Peoples' Assembly, truth-telling and accountability bodies).
What it is
he Statewide Treaty Act 2025 (Act 45/2025) and its institutions (Gellung Warl — First Peoples' Assembly, truth-telling and accountability bodies). The Liberal-National opposition and One Nation both vow to repeal it within 100 days and abolish Gellung Warl (1(;2 ).
Evidence
YouGov (n≈4,000) found 40% support treaty vs 32% oppose; nearly two-thirds think the 100-day repeal pledge is a One Nation policy; in Kew, Caulfield, Sandringham, Brighton, Malvern and Hawthorn, 60%+ say making treaty repeal a first-order priority is "out of touch" (3). The opposition claims repeal saves ~$1bn over a decade (PBO costed) (1). A Legislative Council petition to repeal (Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell) had 579 signatures (4).
Where it bites
Cultural/ideological wedge; strongest salience in the Liberal "dress circle" (Kew, Caulfield, Brighton, Malvern, Hawthorn) and regional seats where One Nation competes — but polling suggests the wedge underperforms in the metro seats the Liberals need.
Who owns it
Coalition/One Nation (repeal); the issue appears to *cost* the Coalition in the marginal inner-metro Liberal seats, while it plays as a One Nation-branded policy elsewhere. Labor/Greens defend treaty (3).
- ABC News — Victorian Liberals to scrap statewide Treaty if elected (2025-10-14) ↩
- ABC News — One Nation pledges law-and-order investment while taking axe to SRL, Treaty and climate policies (2026-10-03) ↩
- The Age / SMH (YouGov / Common Threads) — New premier battles to keep seat as Liberal treaty pledge falls flat (2026-08-09) ↩
- Parliament of Victoria (Legislative Council tabled petitions) — Legislative Council petition to repeal the statewide Treaty (Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell) (2026-06-01) ↩
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