Our committee member Dr Ruth Abbey recently took part in an online forum with Common Threads, a community group that supports Victoria’s treaty with First Nations people. Around 100 people took part in the virtual meeting.

There is more information here about Common Threads: https://www.commonthreads.org.au/

The group is building grass roots support for Victoria’s treaty and collaborates with groups that already support this, as well as preparing for the coming State election.

Common Threads is non-profit, non-partisan, and independent.

They are concerned about the current Liberal Party plan to revoke treaty with Victoria’s First Nations and about the rise in support for One Nation.

According to Common Threads, most Victorians support treaty - especially younger voters - but many remain uninformed. Therefore, it is important to encourage community conversations about the importance of Treaty. Support for the Voice was particularly strong in seats around us including Kew, Hawthorn and Caulfield, with similar levels of support for Treaty.

Common Threads are planning to host candidates’ forums about treaty from September to November.

For anyone interested in this issue for themselves, there is a petition to Defend Treaty here:

https://act.togetherfortreaty.org.au/petitions/wilson-dont-wreck-treaty