New Indigenous Assembly’s Hefty Wage Bill Sparks Debate
The establishment of Victoria’s new Indigenous representative body, Gellung Warl, is set to incur significant costs for taxpayers, with revelations of substantial annual salaries for its elected members. The upcoming assembly, formed through the state’s treaty process, will see its 33 members drawing a collective wage bill of $6 million per year.
At the forefront of this remuneration package are the co-chairs, who will receive an impressive annual salary of $348,000. Rank-and-file elected representatives will not be far behind, pocketing over $197,000 each year. For those taking on higher duties, an additional $29,851 per annum will be added to their earnings.
These figures, disclosed in a document released ahead of the preselection period, represent a substantial increase compared to the current First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, whose members currently earn $96,946 annually. The First Peoples’ Assembly will be dissolved once Gellung Warl assumes its responsibilities.
The newly approved salary bands, determined by a panel that included a member of the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal, are positioned just shy of the $211,972 earned by elected Victorian parliamentary members.
Key Details of Gellung Warl’s Remuneration and Operations:
- Total Annual Wage Bill: $6 million for 33 members.
- Co-chair Salary: $348,000 per annum.
- Elected Representative Salary: Over $197,000 per annum.
- Additional Pay for Higher Duties: $29,851 per annum.
- Comparison to Current Assembly: Double the current remuneration for First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria members.
- Comparison to State MPs: Slightly below the salary of a backbench state Member of Parliament.
A significant point of discussion revolves around the expected time commitment for Gellung Warl members. While a newly released document indicates it is “expected” to be a full-time role due to “significant community and cultural expectations,” the precise commitment will be determined by the members themselves once they are in office.
“Members will decide together on the specific time commitment when they start,” the document clarifies. This flexibility extends to potentially holding other employment, provided it does not conflict with government departments or political figures. Members may also decide on their ability to engage in other paid or unpaid roles, on a part-time or occasional basis, to meet community or cultural obligations.
A spokesperson for the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria defended the new salary structure, stating that the stipends are “justified” by the “importance of the roles that will represent Indigenous Victorians and are pivotal to the rollout of the Treaty agreement.” The spokesperson emphasised that the remuneration was set by an Independent Remuneration Panel as a matter of “best practice” and that members’ responsibilities are comparable to those of State MPs. These responsibilities include making decisions and advocating for constituents, participating in briefings and meetings, attending community events, and engaging with the broader Victorian community.
The spokesperson highlighted that the initial terms of Gellung Warl will focus on a comprehensive “Treaty-making process from the ground up,” building on the state’s “first official truth-telling process” and the negotiation and parliamentary passing of “Australia’s first Treaty.”
The election process to select the inaugural 33 members of Gellung Warl is slated to commence in April, with the assembly officially convening on May 1. It is anticipated that over 30,000 Indigenous Victorians will be eligible to participate in the upcoming election.
The broader treaty process, initiated in 2016, has already incurred an estimated cost of $776 million. Gellung Warl is projected to receive $70 million annually in taxpayer funding, a figure subject to regular review and expected to increase over time.
The controversial treaty legislation was introduced by the Labor government last September, with details now publicly available on a government website. A key tenet of the treaty is the mandatory inclusion of “truth-telling” in the Victorian school curriculum for all students from prep to Year 10. This educational component aims to inform students that the establishment of the “colony of Victoria was established without the consent, negotiation or recognition of the traditional owners of these lands and waters.”
Furthermore, the treaty framework includes provisions that could lead to restrictions on access to alpine areas for skiing and snowboarding, as well as hunting and fishing, upon the request of Aboriginal groups. These proposals have been subjects of recent debate.
Under the reforms, Gellung Warl is also tasked with participating in the “ceremonial life of the state,” which could translate to an increase in Welcome to Country ceremonies. The assembly will also gain authority over the use of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and other “physical markers of treaty.”
Crucially, Gellung Warl will be empowered to create “substantive rules” governing how First Peoples’ organisations in Victoria issue certificates that validate a person’s acceptance as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander individual by their respective communities. The body will also function as a “naming authority” for geographic locations, including mountains, state parks, and rivers, thereby promoting the adoption of traditional or language-based place names.
