Aboriginal people in Victoria are being enticed to attend 'mob only' treaty talks with the promise of a $50 voucher, as the state looks to sign Australia's first treaty with Indigenous citizens.
The state's First Peoples' Assembly, which was first elected byAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in 2019, is tasked with negotiating a treaty with the Victorian government - the first of its kind in Australia.
However, only 10 per cent seven per cent of those eligible to vote turned out in the most recent elections in 2023, up from just seven per cent in 2019, sparking criticism that Victoria's Indigenous population is not interested in a treaty.
Despite this, Jacinta Allan's Labor government in Victoria is pressing ahead with negotiations, which kicked off in November.
Now, the state-funded First People's Assembly appears to be offering $50 vouchers to people who attend their 'treaty gathering' events.
'Statewide Treaty negotiations are officially underway', a recent advertisement for an event in Stawell, a town 240km northwest of Melbourne, reads.
'We need to keep hearing your deadly ideas and feedback to help guide us every step of the way and make this Treaty strong.
'This Treaty Gathering is a chance for mob in the North West region to get together, yarn with your elected Assembly Members, share a feed, learn more about Treaty and have your say.
The state's First Peoples' Assembly, which was first elected by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in 2019, is tasked with negotiating a treaty with the Victorian government - the first of its kind in Australia
Now, the state-funded First People's Assembly appears to be offering $50 vouchers to any Aboriginal people who attend their 'mob only treaty gathering' events (pictured)
'Enrolled attendees will receive a $50 voucher at the event.'
The event, which has been postponed from 18 January due to fires in the region, is listed as being for 'mob only' guests.
Non-Indigenous carers and support workers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are allowed to attend.
The assembly's social media pages recently insisted they are 'always out having yarns with the community all across the State to ensure Treaty is inclusive'.
Daniel Wild, Deputy Executive Director of the Institute of Public Affairs said the voucher programme reflectsthe divisive agenda Victorians have come to expect from their state government.
'That Jacinta Allan has to bribe Victorians to attend such events shows how little support there is for so-called "treaty" negotiations amongst mainstream Victorians,' Mr Wild told Daily Mail Australia.
'Victorians voted against this divisive agenda, emphatically rejecting the Voice referendum that sought to divide us along racial grounds.
'Mainstream Victorians understand there is more that unites us than divides us.'
Despite a lack of public support, Jacinta Allan's Labor government in Victoria is pressing ahead with negotiations for the treaty (pictured: Premier Allan's predecessor, Dan Andrews, at the First Peoples' Assembly)
Non-Indigenous people can attend the assembly's 'Treaty Day Out' arts and music festival in Gippsland on 8 February. But they have to pay almost $80 for the privilege, while Indigenous people go free
Sky News Host Andrew Bolt claimed the financial incentive amounted to 'Labor bribing people to join a race movement'.
Non-Indigenous people can attend the assembly's 'Treaty Day Out' arts and music festival in Gippsland on 8 February.
The only catch is that they have to pay $80 for a ticket, while Aboriginal people go free.
The event, which will see performances from the likes ofTroy Cassar-Daley and Electric Fields, has separate 'tix for mob' and 'tix for allies' ticket options.
'As always, tickets are FREE for mob enrolled with the Assembly,' the event page states.
Whereas, non-Indigenous attendees have to shell out $75, plus a $4.39 booking fee.
A similar event held in Wyndham in November, where Indigenous people could attend for free while everyone else had to stump up $50, sparked accusations of 'reverse racism'.
'It's like saying, 'You poor Black person, you can't afford to go',' one Aborignal man told local news outlet Wyndham TV.
'It's a woke vision that's spiralling out of control. It reinforces a 'poor you' mentality and keeps the divide there.
'It's a type of reverse racism, and it does more harm than good.'
Daily Mail Australia approached theFirst Peoples' Assembly for comment.
The First Peoples' Assembly at least $65 million in funding from the Victorian state government.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has signalled that he is open to following their lead, with his Labor administration in September appointing three commissioners to conduct a one-year 'listening tour' across the state.
This tour will look at whether the state's Indigenous communities want a treaty and how that should work if they did.
Victoria was the first to introduce legal frameworks for an Indigenous treaty in 2018, with Queensland, Tasmania, the ACT and Northern Territory also looking at establishing their own treaties.
South Australia legislated for a state-based Voice in March 2023.