February 10, 2020
The State Government has received a set of recommendations from the independent panel investigating a Treaty process with Indigenous Queenslanders.
The report, by the Path to Treaty Eminent Panel working in collaboration with the Treaty Working Group, was handed to Deputy Premier Jackie Trad on Monday.
The Eminent Panel has provided recommendations on how to move forward on the Path to Treaty, reflecting feedback from consultations in 24 communities, engaging more than 1700 Queenslanders.
The Deputy Premier said she was honoured to receive the report on behalf of the State Government.
“Path to Treaty is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reconcile our past in the spirit of truth telling so we can move towards a shared future that will benefit all Queenslanders,” Ms Trad said.
“I want to thank members from the Eminent Panel and the Treaty Working Group for their hard work in undertaking what has been an incredibly ambitious program of consultation.
“I also want to thank those Queenslanders who engaged in this process in the true spirit of reconciliation and commit to engaging with all Queenslanders on this path to reframing the relationship with First Nations Queenslanders.
“The Queensland Government will consider the recommendations in the report and provide a response on the next steps over the coming months.”
Eminent Panel co-chair Dr Jackie Huggins said there was broad support for incorporating a framework for truth-telling as part of Queensland’s Path to Treaty.
“Truth-telling is about acknowledging the history of our country and it is a vital component to moving on,” Dr Huggins said.
“Truth-telling is about us all having a conversation about what has happened to our families, to our communities, and to us as the people we are today — the unpalatable truths of our history.
“Hopefully with treaty in Queensland, we can face the truth head on and come to terms with the injustices First Nations’ peoples experienced in the past, as well as addressing the ongoing disadvantage First Nations’ peoples still experience today.”
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