Aboriginal elder busts reparations myth ahead of Treaty negotiations

By Olivia Day For Daily Mail Australia Published: 01:12 EDT, 22 May 2024 | Updated: 01:12 EDT, 22 May 2024 An Aboriginal Elder has insisted residents will not lose their land as the Victorian government prepares to begin negotiations for a Treaty with Indigenous Australians. Aunty Jill Gallagher, who is not directly involved in the negotiations, revealed what kinds of compensation she wanted First Nations people to receive.  ‘I think reparations should be on the table,’ she told 3AW radio on Wednesday. ‘It might not be in the way of money form, it might be in the way of empowerment, it might be in the way of land, but definitely not private land,’ she said. ‘No one is going to lose their private land through this Treaty process.’ Her comment came as the Allan government refused to rule out giving compulsorily acquired private property to Indigenous groups on Tuesday. Treaty and First Peoples Minister Natalie Hutchins was pressed on the matter as she fronted the Public Accounts and Estimate Committee hearing. ‘The focus that we have on Treaty is about building a new pathway going forward with Aboriginal people,’ she said.  Ms Gallagher said land ‘must’ be part of the...