The Finocchiaro Government has scrapped the proposed treaty with Indigenous Territorians saying it will focus on local government reform instead, with independent MLA and Yolŋu traditional owner Yiŋiya Guyula saying the move was “saddening” and “ignorant”, the ABC has reported.

The national broadcaster reported that Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said in an interview the government would not be undertaking a treaty with Indigenous people.

“We’ve never supported a treaty, so that’s all been dismantled under our government,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

“Our focus is on local government reform. We’ve always been clear about that.”

Arnhem Land independent MLA Yiŋiya Guyul told the ABC the decision was “saddening” and “ignorant”.

“They need to understand, they need to listen, and accept the fact that they are doing a lot of damage when they say ‘no’,” Mr Guyula said.

“You remove treaty, and you’re still standing on us, walking all over us. That’s why we need a treaty, to get the government off our backs.

“Let the treaty go on, let us have a treaty. Let’s walk together side by side.”

The Gunner Government promised to discuss a treaty with Indigenous Territorians when it was first elected in 2016 and signed a memorandum of understanding about treaty with the four land councils at the Barunga Festival on June 8, 2018.

Acting Treaty Commissioner Tony McAvoy produced his final report on June 28, 2022, while the Fyles Government produced its 1,009 word response six months later on December 29, a response that came amid the holiday season with no press conference, while the ABC reported that Treaty and Local Decision Making Minister Selena Uibo refused requests for interviews.

The government response included shuttering the Treaty Commission, despite roughly $4.2 million having already been spent, and continuing the treaty process in a new Treaty Unit within the Office of Aboriginal Affairs. The then-government committed to holding a series of First Nations forums over 18 months to two years to “test” if Indigenous people agreed with the commission’s recommendations.

In October 2023, then-chief minister Natasha Fyles told the ABC there was no longer a specific timeline but they continued to work towards a treaty or treaties.

In April last year, then-attorney-general Chansey Paech told the Darwin Treaty Symposium “the time for mucking around is over” and called for a treaty despite his government having been the one that significantly slowed the process.

He claimed the 2023 Voice referendum stalled the treaty process.

It is unclear what the former Labor Government did to advance the treaty after his comments and before the August election.

This week Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington told the ABC that the former Labor Government spent $5.3 million for the Treaty Commission-Treaty Office between 2018-19 and 2023-24.

Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan said in a statement that it was a final blow in a drawn out and frustrating path to achieving treaty.

“It was only 12 months ago that the former NT government announced a reboot of Territory treaty negations, a move which was welcomed by the NLC,” Mr Ryan said.

“Treaty-making was never going to be easy. It’s long and complex, but we were committed to working alongside the NT Government to creating something that would benefit all Territorians.

“We have always said that Aboriginal people on the ground have the answers, but over and over again governments on all sides have chosen not to listen.”

Opposition Leader Selena Uibo was quoted as saying the CLP was ignoring 30 years of advocacy, but would not say if she regretted what her government had done to hold up a treaty.

“It’s extremely disappointing, but unfortunately not a surprise, that the CLP Government has completely scrapped any commitment to Territorians around a treaty process,” Ms Uibo said.

“I know that, particularly in parts of my electorate of Arnhem, that treaty is a constant conversation…and now we have the CLP Government who has closed up all ears, all mind, all heart, about what treaty could look like in the territory.”