Hailed as "two worlds" coming together to forge deeper understanding, the signing of Victoria's nation-first treaty marked a historic moment once thought impossible.
But less than a year on, the state's Liberal-National coalition has flagged its intention to repeal the agreement within 100 days should it win the November 28 election.
It's a prospect that is anathema to human rights advocate Travis Lovett, who served as deputy chair and commissioner of Australia's first formal, Indigenous-led truth-telling inquiry, the Yoorrook Justice Commission.
Such a move would trigger community devastation across Victoria, he tells AAP.
"It would cause a lot of trauma towards First Peoples again if the treaty was abolished," he says.
Formalised last October, the Statewide Treaty Act 2025 marked a groundbreaking shift in relations between First Peoples and the Victorian government.
The bill followed almost a year of negotiations with the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria at the end of the Yoorrook truth-telling inquiry exposing mistreatment of Aboriginal people since colonisation.
Yoorrook called for redress for post-colonisation pain and suffering through restitution of traditional land, monetary compensation, tax relief or other financial benefits.
Premier Jacinta Allan said at the time the treaty created a living partnership with the world's oldest continuing culture.
"Today is a recognition that ancient systems of law and the modern institutions of our democracy can stand side by side," she declared.
"But today also carries a deeper meaning; it is quite literally two worlds meeting in respect and in partnership."
However, as Victorians prepare to head to the polls, the treaty's future is unclear.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson and shadow Aboriginal affairs minister Melina Bath have vowed to scrap the treaty framework and abandon the signed agreement if they win office.
They plan to replace the independent representative body Gellung Warl with First Nations Victoria - a new government department overseen by a single minister and a separate advisory body that would work directly with Indigenous communities.
An opposition spokesperson told AAP on Wednesday a coalition government would introduce the legislation within its first 100 days.
"Labor's divisive treaty is a billion-dollar bureaucracy that will not directly deliver better outcomes for Indigenous Victorians," they said.
One Nation has also committed to scrapping the treaty and dismantling Gellung Warl to help fund its full suite of policies.
For Deputy Premier and First Peoples Minister Gabrielle Williams, the state has been on a "steady path" to treaty for a decade.
"Treaty is a practical measure to achieve better outcomes for First Peoples in Victoria and close the gap," she says.
"Families are better off when they have responsibility over their lives and Aboriginal families are no different.
"Treaty reflects the advocacy and determination of First Peoples to make a better and fairer state for all Victorians."
The government says it will continue working with Gellung Warl to implement and support practical reforms.
Decades of hard work went into securing the treaty and ripping it up to start again would be "illogical", Greens leader Ellen Sandell says.
"Treaty is a wonderful opportunity for all Victorians to share in the oldest living culture in the world and ensure First Nations people have a real say in their future," she tells AAP.
"It's already working to improve people's lives; why rip it up just out of spite and division? Frankly, it's out of touch.
"The Liberals are digging their own hole on the wrong side of history."
This week marked three years since the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum was defeated, with 60 per cent voting 'no' and 40 per cent 'yes'.
Mr Lovett says people are using the failed referendum as a catalyst against treaty to stir division in the state election campaign.
"When things get tough politically, too many politicians reach for the oldest playbook in this country - blame First Peoples, stir division and whistle about treaty," he says.
"It's a distraction from the real issues facing Australians but our people should never be used as political scapegoats."
He says Victorians should be proud of the trailblazing legislation and vows to work with whoever wins government to continue advocating for First Peoples.
"Treaty is there to bring us all together ... let's all be proud as a state that we are the only state in the country that has a treaty and nobody had to give anything up to get that," he says.
"We have to work with whoever Victorians choose to elect. We don't have any other choice."
Labor's primary vote remains steady at 25 per cent, according to the latest Resolve Political Monitor conducted in October and published by Nine newspapers.
Primary support for the coalition has risen one point to 28 per cent, with One Nation steady at 23 per cent, the Greens at 15 and independents nine.
Swinburne University politics and public policy senior lecturer Damon Alexander doesn't expect treaty to influence voter behaviour on polling day.
While the coalition is extremely unlikely to alter its opposition to treaty, he says it might avoid promoting its policy to prevent losing moderate votes.
"I don't think it's going to be something they're going to highlight too much or prioritise," Dr Alexander tells AAP.
"It's not a battleground there's much value in sort of taking on because that's One Nation's natural habitat."
Issues such as the cost of living are more likely to sway voters during the election campaign, Dr Alexander says.
"It's not an issue I think will move the dial for very many voters."
Whether it's a priority for Victorian voters or not, a change of government could dramatically shift the dial on treaty - and the state's trailblazing merger of worlds.
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