Media release: Multicultural communities back Treaty for Victoria

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), along with over 45 other multicultural organisations including Democracy in Colour, IndianCare, Centre for Multicultural Youth, Settlement Council of Australia and Australian Multicultural Community Services, have proudly signed a joint statement supporting Treaty in Victoria. 

With the legislation for Australia’s first Treaty being debated this week in the Victorian Parliament, we call on all politicians to support this historic step towards justice and Self-Determination for First Peoples.

In an exclusive QDOS Research survey of 2,000 Victorians, among people from multicultural communities from post-colonial nations, such as India, 69% of respondents backed Treaty and only 11% opposed. Nearly half (45%) of respondents in these communities were concerned that the Victorian Liberals are stoking fear about Treaty similarly to the way Trump and his allies stoke fear about migrants and multiculturalism.

Treaty is about fairness, respect and truth. It enables First Peoples to make decisions on matters that impact them, and lead practical solutions for their local communities. Evidence has consistently shown that when First Peoples lead the way, they get better outcomes for their communities.

Australia’s first official Truth-Telling process, led by the Yoorook Justice Commission, found that the legacy of colonisation continues to impact the health, welfare, education and socio-economic status of First Peoples today. Treaty is how we can heal and respond to these truths with action – moving forward to create a better future together.

Treaty invites all Victorians to share in over 60,000 years of culture, language and knowledge – honouring the world’s oldest living culture. It is not only a recognition of the past, but a step towards a more inclusive and united future. Whether we have been here for five years, five generations or five thousand generations, we all benefit from a fairer society that values justice and truth.

We are proud that Victoria is the first state to take this historic step and recognise the sovereignty of First Peoples. Multicultural communities are in solidarity with Victoria’s First Peoples and celebrate this achievement as a beacon of justice and recognition for all marginalised communities. We believe that this historic step will strengthen our shared humanity, enrich our democracy, and guide us toward a more inclusive and reconciled society.

This is the outcome of generations of advocacy led by First Nations communities on the decade-long journey towards this first Treaty. We honour the tremendous strength and leadership of First Peoples and are proud to walk alongside them as allies. 

Kon Karapanagiotidis, OAM, CEO and Founder Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, said:
‘’First Nations communities have welcomed multicultural communities into their country, land and culture. They have been generous neighbours to our newly arrived communities. They have treated our families, cultures and traditions with respect and care. It’s now our turn to repay that generosity and show that same respect by supporting Treaty.

Any attack on Treaty is an attack on every culturally diverse community in Victoria, and an attempt to tear at the great multicultural fabric of this state.”

Jaya Manchikanti, President IndianCare, said:
“As a peak body coordinating culturally informed services for the large and diverse Indian community in Victoria, we know solutions work best when they’re designed by the people they affect. Treaty is the strongest way to put Aboriginal people in the driver’s seat to improve health, education, and employment outcomes – and that’s why we are backing it.”

Noura Mansour, National Director at Democracy in Colour
‘At Democracy in Colour, we believe that there’s no justice for multicultural communities, migrants and people of colour, without first and foremost justice for First Nations people on this continent. Treaty and truth telling are necessary first steps to acknowledging the historical injustices against First Nations people. 

As migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum, we stand in solidarity with and alongside First Nation people in their struggle for racial justice and self determination.’

For media enquiries please contact Jana Favero at ASRC on 0438 829 651
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FULL STATEMENT AND SIGNATORIES

JOINT STATEMENT: Multicultural communities support Treaty for Victoria

13 October 2025

Multicultural communities are united in our support of Treaty for Victoria. 

We are proud to stand in solidarity with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria in reaching this historic moment when Australia’s first Treaty will soon be a reality. This is an important step in creating a fairer, more inclusive and united Victoria, which will benefit everyone who calls Victoria home. 

With the legislation for the first Statewide Treaty now before Parliament, we call on all politicians to support Treaty.

When First Peoples lead the way, they get better outcomes for their communities. Through Treaty, First Peoples will be able to make decisions on matters that impact them. Treaty is the next essential step to ensure Aboriginal people have the ability to lead practical solutions for their local communities. 

Treaty is also our path to face up to our true history and create a better future together.

Australia’s first official Truth-Telling process, led by the Yoorook Justice Commission, found that the legacy of colonisation on First Peoples continues today, impacting the health, welfare, education and socio-economic status of First Peoples. 

Treaty is how we can heal, respond to these truths with action and move forward together. 

Treaty also honours the world’s oldest living culture and invites all Victorians to share in over 60,000 years of culture, language and knowledge. It unifies us by recognising and valuing First Peoples as an integral part of the shared identity in the place we now all call home. We want a country that values all people, whether they have been here five years, five generations or five thousand generations.

A Victoria that acknowledges its past and honours First Peoples’ cultures, communities and languages is a more inclusive Victoria for all our communities. 

Treaty in Victoria is long overdue. We are proud that Victoria is the first state to take this historic step and recognise the sovereignty of First Peoples. This is the outcome of generations of leadership, strength and resistance and comes after a decade-long journey towards this first Treaty led by First Nations communities. We honour the tremendous strength and leadership of First Peoples and walk alongside them in this Treaty journey. 

We all have a responsibility to stand alongside First Peoples as allies in our fight for justice, equity and safety for all Victorians. We align ourselves with the aspirations of the communities we serve for a fairer, more inclusive Victoria. In doing so, we hold ourselves to the highest standards of justice, respect and truth. 

We are proud to support Treaty for Victoria. 

SIGNATORIES:

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC)
African Family Services Limited
Africause youth & community service inc
Amnesty International, Bendigo Action Group
Asian Australians for Climate Solutions
Australia Refugees and Family Reunification Inc.
Australian Arab Institute for Culture and Ideas
Australian Multicultural Community Services
Bayside Refugee Advocacy and Support Association
Browns For Better
Centre for Migrant and Refugee Health, Inc.
Centre for Multicultural Youth
Circle of Friends Australia Inc
Democracy in Colour
End Child Detention Coalition Ltd
Federation of Community Legal Services (Vic)
Hazara Community Geelong Inc
Hazara Cultural Association
Human Rights Law Centre
IndianCare
Inter Faith Network
Jesuit Social Services
Jewish Council of Australia
Merri-bek Interfaith Network
Mums4Refugees
National Amnesty Refugee Network
National Justice Project
National Refugee-led Advisory and Advocacy Group
Palestinian Christians in Australia
Permaculture Partners
Refugee Action Campaign Canberra
Refugee Council of Australia
Rural Australians for Refugees  Ballarat
Settlement Council of Australia
Social Responsibilities Committee, Anglican Church Southern Queensland
The Centre Against Racial Profiling
The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion
Tongan Community NSW
United Muslim sister of Latrobe Valley (UMSLV)
Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania
Voices For Casey
Welcome Merchant
Welcome to Eltham
Welcoming Australia
Whittlesea Community Connections
Women of Colour Melbourne inc.
3ZZZ Radio Station 92.3FM