First People’s Assembly of Victoria to propose new public holiday celebrating Aboriginal culture during Treaty negotiations

A new public holiday for Victorians is set to be discussed at upcoming Treaty negotiations next month.

The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria is expected to propose a public holiday to celebrate Aboriginal culture as formal Treaty talks with the state government begin at the end of November.

After speaking with First Nations people across the state about what they would like included in Treaty agreements, Assembly co-chair Rueben Berg told 7NEWS.com.au one of the ideas that arose was “a day to share and celebrate First Peoples culture with everyone”.

“This country has the oldest living cultures in the world, that’s something worth celebrating together,” he said.

“We’ve heard lots of ideas in our conversations with communities across Victoria.

“One idea was to have a day to share and celebrate First Peoples culture with everyone here in Victoria.

“We’d love to keep sharing in and celebrating our cultures together in this place.”

When asked on Wednesday about the potential new public holiday Premier Jacinta Allan would not comment on whether she supported the idea.

“I’m not going to negotiate through the media or publicly what’s in and out about what First Peoples bring to the table because I’m focused on Victoria being ready, the Victorian government being ready … to negotiate,” she said.

Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang said the public holiday was “unwanted” and that small businesses would pay the price.

“Victoria is probably the capital state in Australia when it comes to public holidays, we certainly can’t afford to have another one, particularly one that we don’t need,” he said.

“We always hear this as one extra day but who’s paying for it, if you’re working for a small business, that’s the small business owner and the small business family that’s paying you for doing no work.”

Allan said the start of the Treaty talks was “a big and important step forward” in improving social and economic outcomes for First Peoples.

She said First Nations people in Victoria had been excluded for “far too long” and that too many decisions were being made about them but without their input.

“By improving social and economic outcomes for First Peoples ... it strengthens our community.”

The Opposition withdrew its support for a treaty in January following the failed national Voice to federal parliament referendum, citing concerns about cultural heritage laws.