As an Indigenous man in a senior government role, Ken Wyatt is ambitious but pragmatic, as he struggles to bridge the gap between Indigenous expectations and political realities.

Ken Wyatt, the Minister for Indigenous Australians, has announced a co-design process for Indigenous people to have a “voice to government". Wyatt has, without consultation, appointed professors Tom Calma and Marcia Langton to a senior advisory group, going against the government’s own “co-design” intention.

The 'voice to government' is to be legislated and separate from the question of symbolic constitutional recognition. This type of reform was resoundingly rejected by the Uluru statement.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the possible implications of Treaty for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), highlight international examples of how treaty holders and Aboriginal agencies have established agreements for service delivery, advocacy and support, and provide some options on how similar arrangements might be established in Victoria.

Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia, Professor Tom Calma AO, is an Aboriginal elder from the Kungarakan tribal group and a member of the Iwaidja tribal group in the Northern Territory. Professor Calma delivered this presentation for the Australian Parliamentary Library National Reconciliation Week lecture.