Indigenous Assembly Members to Earn Substantial Salaries Amidst Treaty Implementation
The establishment of Victoria’s new Indigenous representative body, Gellung Warl, is set to incur significant costs for taxpayers, with elected members slated to receive substantial annual wages. The upcoming Indigenous assembly, formed as part of the state’s controversial treaty process, will see its 33 members command a total annual wage bill of approximately $6 million.
Co-chairs of the Gellung Warl assembly are set to receive an impressive annual salary of $348,000. This figure is considerably higher than the remuneration received by their predecessors. Regular elected representatives will also earn a considerable sum, with annual salaries exceeding $197,000. Members undertaking higher duties within the assembly will be eligible for an additional $29,851 per year.
These remuneration figures, revealed in a document released ahead of the preselection period for the inaugural members, are more than double the $96,946 currently earned by members of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria is scheduled to be dissolved once Gellung Warl officially assumes its responsibilities.
The new salary bands were approved by a panel that included a member of the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal. The proposed salaries are positioned just below the $211,972 earned by elected Victorian parliamentary members.
A key point of discussion and potential ambiguity surrounds the expected time commitment for elected Gellung Warl members. While a newly released document indicates that a full-time commitment is “expected,” it also states that the significant community and cultural expectations placed upon members will be a primary consideration. The document further clarifies that “Members will decide together on the specific time commitment when they start.” This suggests a degree of flexibility and collective decision-making regarding the exact workload and whether members can hold other employment, provided it does not conflict with government departments or political roles. The potential for members to hold other paid or unpaid roles on a part-time or occasional basis, particularly to meet community or cultural obligations, is also acknowledged within the document.
A spokesperson for the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria has defended the new salary structure, asserting that the remuneration is “justified” by the critical nature of the roles. These roles are pivotal to representing Indigenous Victorians and are central to the successful implementation of the Treaty agreement. The spokesperson emphasized that the stipends were determined by an Independent Remuneration Panel, adhering to best practices, and are set at a level slightly lower than that of a state Member of Parliament (MP).
The responsibilities of Gellung Warl members are described as being comparable to those of State MPs. These duties encompass making decisions and advocating on behalf of their constituents, actively participating in briefings and meetings, attending community events, and engaging with and listening to community members. Furthermore, members are expected to build and maintain relationships with the broader Victorian community.
The initial two terms of Gellung Warl are anticipated to focus on a comprehensive “Treaty-making process from the ground up.” This phase follows what has been described as the country’s first official truth-telling process and the negotiation, signing, and parliamentary approval of Australia’s first Treaty.
The upcoming election to select the inaugural 33 members of Gellung Warl is scheduled to commence in April, with the assembly formally convening on May 1. It is estimated that over 30,000 Indigenous Victorians will be eligible to participate in this significant election.
The broader Treaty process has already incurred substantial costs, with an estimated $776 million spent since its inception in 2016. Gellung Warl itself is projected to receive an annual taxpayer funding of $70 million, a figure that is subject to regular review and is expected to increase over time.
The controversial Treaty bill, introduced by the Labor government in September of the previous year, outlines several key provisions now detailed on a government website. A significant aspect of the Treaty mandates the inclusion of “truth-telling” in the curriculum for all Victorian students from preparatory to Year 10. This educational component aims to inform students about the historical establishment of the colony of Victoria, emphasizing that it occurred without the consent, negotiation, or recognition of the traditional custodians of the land and waters.
Further implications of the Treaty include potential restrictions on access to alpine areas for skiing and snowboarding, as well as on hunting and fishing activities, which could be implemented at the request of Aboriginal groups. These proposals have been subjects of recent debate.
Under the reformed framework, Gellung Warl is designated to “participate in the ceremonial life of the state,” which may lead to an increase in Welcome to Country ceremonies. The assembly will also hold authority over the use of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and other “physical markers of treaty.”
Moreover, Gellung Warl will be empowered to establish “substantive rules relating to how First Peoples’ organisations in Victoria provide certificates evidencing that a person is accepted as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person by the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community.” The body will also function as a “naming authority” for geographical locations such as mountains, state parks, and rivers, with the objective of promoting the use of traditional or language-based place names.
