Jess Wilson, Only Vic Liberal Who Supported The Voice, Now Leading Charge To Abolish Treaty In Bold Display Of Career-Stage Convenience

MELBOURNE – Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson, who in 2023 was the only Liberal MP in Victoria to publicly support the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, has confirmed her party will fight to abolish the Statewide Treaty if elected in November. Wilson described Treaty as creating “a parallel system of government” and a threat to “the rule of law”.

The rule of law in question being the same body of law applied at gunpoint from 1788 onwards, without any treaty, consent or parliamentary debate involving the people who actually lived here.

Speaking from Country, an Aboriginal Elder welcomed Wilson’s position with the careful diplomacy of someone who has been hearing this exact line for 250 years.

“Eya tru gawd” said one Aunty. “Sounds about right. White MP supports Voice when it’s a vibe in 2023. Goes quiet after the No vote. Becomes leader. Suddenly Treaty is a threat to democracy. Funny how the rule of law only becomes precious when blackfullas might benefit from it.”

Wilson, a former adviser to Josh Frydenberg and ex-Executive Director of Policy at the Business Council of Australia, took the leadership in November after Brad Battin lost party room support. She has also confirmed the Liberals would set up a new “Indigenous Affairs Department” focused on “outcomes”. Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, who have been delivering measurable outcomes for decades on starvation budgets, were reportedly amused.

“Lovely to hear about another department” said one health worker. “We’ve had about 47 of them. They normally last as long as the minister stays interested. About 18 months on average.”

Treaty was a key plank of Labor’s 2018 and 2022 platforms, both of which delivered them landslide victories. Indigenous communities across Victoria, including many who voted No to the Voice, have expressed broad support for Treaty. None of this featured in the Coalition’s analysis.

The Statewide Treaty Bill 2025 was passed last year. Wilson has confirmed she would repeal it, citing the importance of “one set of laws for everyone” – a principle that has applied unevenly since approximately the moment the First Fleet stepped off the boat.