# 2019 Victorian First Peoples' Assembly election

The 2019 Victorian First Peoples' Assembly election was held between 16 September to 20 October 2019 to elect 21 members to the First Peoples' Assembly in the Australian state of Victoria. The election filled seats to the body, which was charged with the responsibility of preparing for negotiations with the Victorian Government about a treaty with the state's Aboriginal population.
Only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Victoria and at least 16 years of age were eligible to vote in the election. However, only 7% of the eligible voters turned out to vote.

## Background

In June 2018 the Victorian Parliament passed legislation to create a framework for negotiating a treaty with Aboriginal people. The legislation was supported by the Labor Government and the Greens, though not by the two opposition parties, the Liberal and National parties. The legislation included provisions to create an Aboriginal representative body and its implementation was overseen by the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commission chaired by Jill Gallagher. The lead-up to the vote was not without controversy, as it occurred amidst the Andrews Labor Government's planned duplication of the Western Highway near Ararat. The duplication plans included a proposal to disrupt a cultural site with trees sacred to Aboriginal people in the area. A protest on the steps of Parliament House included protesters with signs saying "no trees, no treaty".

## Assembly

The Assembly was filled by 32 representatives, the majority of which were elected in five regions; 9 from Melbourne region, 3 from Western Victoria region, 3 from North-Western region, 3 from Northern region, and 3 from Eastern region. A further 11 seats were reserved for formally recognised Traditional Owner Groups. 73 people nominated for the Assembly and approximately 30,000 people were eligible to vote. To vote, eligible voters were first required to enrol online and provide evidence of identity, age and residence. Voting opened on 16 September and closed on 20 October 2019, and voters could cast a ballot online, by post or at one of 43 polling booths across Victoria.
Once elected, the Assembly was not responsible for negotiating a treaty or multiple treaties with the Victorian government on behalf of Aboriginal clans and nations. Instead the Assembly's primary responsibilities were to:
* Establish the Treaty Authority – an independent umpire in the negotiation process
* Establish the Treaty Negotiating Framework – a body who set the ground rules for negotiations and authorised who may negotiate on behalf of certain people/clans
* Establish the Self-Determination Fund – to support Aboriginal communities to be on an even playing field with government when treaties are being negotiated

## Results

The 21 elected candidates were announced on 4 November 2019. Seven days later the commission announced the 11 people appointed by formally recognised Traditional Owner groups (termed Registered Aboriginal Parties or Traditional Owner Corporations) to a reserved seat on the Assembly.
The first meeting of the Assembly took place on 10 December 2019 at Parliament House, Melbourne.

### Elected members

| Metropolitan | South west | North west | North east | South east |
| Esmerelda Glenda Bamblett | Sissy Austin | Jacinta Chaplin | Geraldine Atkinson | Peter Hood |
| Muriel Pauline Bamblett AO | Michael (Mookeye) Bell | Raylene Ivy Harradine | Natarsha Bamblett | Alice Ann Pepper |
| Rueben Berg | Jordan Edwards | Jason Kelly | Leanne Miller | Kaylene Williamson |
| Carolyn Briggs AM |
| Matthew Burns |
| Tracey Evans |
| Trevor John Gallagher |
| Ngarra Murray |
| Alister Thorpe |

### Reserved seat holders

One seat unfilled, because the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation were entitled to appoint a member but did not do so. Seat holders may have ancestry from multiple First Nations.
| Name | Nation (clan) | Region | Registered Aboriginal Party |
| Dylan Clarke | Wotjobaluk | North West | Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation |
| Trent Nelson | Dja Dja Wurrung, Yorta Yorta | North West | Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation |
| Sean Fagan | Wadawurrung | | Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation |
| Marcus Stewart | Taungurung | | Taungurung Land and Waters Council Aboriginal Corporation |
| Donna Wright | Gunditjmara (Kerrupmara), Kamilaroi | South West | Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation |
| Melissa Jones | Latje Latje, Wotjobaluk | North West | First People of the Millewa-Mallee Aboriginal Corporation |
| Jamie Lowe | Gunditjmara | | Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation |
| Robert Ogden | Bunurong | Metropolitan | Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation |
| Andrew Gardiner | Wurundjeri, Woi Wurung | | Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation |
| Troy McDonald | Gunai Kurnai | South East | Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation |
| Unfilled | - | - | Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation |

## By-elections

Two by-elections were held for the assembly before the 2023 election.
| Region | Vacated | Previous member | Elected member | Elected | Cause |
| South West | 28 October 2020 | Sissy Austin | Charmaine Clarke | June 2021 | Resigned after removal of sacred tree |
| North East | Late 2021 | Natarsha Bamblett | Travis Morgan | 17 April 2022 | Resigned |