A DEAL has been quietly done between the Victorian Government and five Aboriginal groups in Western Victoria, according to an outspoken MP.

Western Victoria MP, Bev McArthur, said it impacts ten local councils and gives the Indigenous groups a say over water, road and biosecurity decisions.

She especially highlighted that the deal recommends that the councils ‘preferentially source goods and services’ from these Aboriginal groups and the land council managing the deal.

With a reference to recent law changes in Western Australia, she claimed it will change how the councils operate - and it could change the fabric of country towns throughout the area.

“While the Voice is the headline act stealing attention, it is not alone on the national stage of Indigenous rules and regulations,” she said.

“Layer upon layer of Indigenous politics is currently being baked into place via multiple Acts, Treaties, Native Title Agreements and their sub-agreements such as the one discussed below. Not all are proving quite so melt-in-the-mouth.”

Ms McArthur cited some examples of the negative side of the agreements by describing what was already taking place with WA’s Aboriginal Heritage Act, saying it had “taken our national attention”.

“We sit watching the unfolding of (WA’s) big, burly state,” she said.

“When community tree-planting days can be cancelled because of the need for Indigenous sign-off, or a demand for $2.5 million, we know times are changing.

“The fear of huge financial sanctions or jail is real. What individual can afford a $1 million fine, or corporation $10 million?

“The Act also effectively strips away the autonomy of WA farmers. They feed the nation and the world. They, too, care deeply about the magic and mystery of those red soils.

“The WA Government clearly has no concept of what it has just unleashed. But now, such manoeuvring may be starting elsewhere in this country. So, here’s looking at you Victoria.”

Ms McArthur claimed an ‘expanded settlement package’ was signed last October between five Aboriginal groups in Western Victoria and the Victorian Government and is being managed by the Barengi Gadjin Land Council (BGLC).

“Since then, all has seemingly been quiet until recently when a newspaper report broke the news that the State Government had negotiated further deals under the ‘package’,” she said.

“The deal covers 10 Local Government Areas including the councils of Mildura, the Northern and Southern Grampians, Pyrenees, Horsham, and Ararat – in all, the BGLC will command influence over nearly 36,000 square kilometres.

“The councils were told about the revised agreement just last month - after the deal was done.”

With the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) admitting it will change how councils operate, she said it could mean significant barriers to getting community projects done.

“Without trying to be cute, one assumes a council will have to ask their local tribe if they can plant camellias in a town’s botanical gardens, or native salt bush; daffodils or quangdongs,” Ms McArthur said.

“The MAV says farmers can expect multiple impacts, yet to be revealed, but they would include things such as Indigenous access to Crown Land river frontages for ‘carbon capture initiatives’, or signoff to build bridges over rivers on private properties.”

She said a Natural Resource Agreement between the State of Victoria and the BGLC had already been gazetted, granting them the right of first refusal on such contracts.

She also said “the ‘preferential’ treatment may now apply to a much broader range of council activities”.

“For example, the Indigenous council and its tribes could establish a stationery business, a nursery, an employment agency, audit or legal firm, a cleaning business, an IT and electrical goods company, a car yard, a catering enterprise, and so on,” Ms McArthur said.

“The councils are then heavily encouraged to give preference to them – for pens and paper, trees and plants for local parks, for temporary staff, full-time staff, for legal and accounting advice, for computers and phones, catering needs, car leasing, or office cleaning.

“What small town business in Western Victoria could compete against the Indigenous entity?

“It could be business over for the non-Indigenous sector – and all this to provide what? Indigenous ‘self-determination’?”

Ms McArthur said the deal remained secret to the public, but reports from those who have seen it have said the agreement with the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia, and Jupagulk Peoples (WJJWJ), recommends that councils:

-             Partner with BGLC when updating or creating water management strategies

-             Consult with BGLC on road and roadside management and maintenance

-             Involve BGLC in all levels of biodiversity strategy and decision-making (both Indigenous and introduced species)

-             Source biodiversity and carbon offsets, and other environmental market services and products from BGLC or other WJJWJ entities or businesses as a first preference

-             Employ appropriately skilled WJJWJ people and establish contracting and procurement processes to preferentially source goods and services from BGLC and other WJJWJ entities or businesses.

The Southern Grampians Shire Council were contacted for comment but did not reply before deadline.