November 1, 2024
As signalled during the election campaign, the new LNP State Government has scrapped the Truth-Telling And Healing Inquiry, part of the former government’s Path to Treaty process with First Nations Queenslanders.
Preliminary discussions linked to the inquiry had already been held, including visits to Cherbourg.
A visit planned to Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) to discuss hearings in December will now no longer go ahead.
Premier David Crisafulli told the Courier-Mail newspaper: “We won’t be allowing those to go ahead, but it will be done with respect and decency.”
“I don’t think there’s anyone under any illusions about the fact that we’re not continuing that process,” he said.
The independent, Indigenous-led inquiry was established by the former State Government to allow First Nations residents to share their histories directly.
The inquiry released its first report into its progress so far on October 25, the day before the State Election.
The report (see below) outlined the purpose and establishment of the inquiry, the work undertaken from July-October 2024 and a brief overview of the next planned stages.
Cherbourg Mayor Bruce Simpson attended the official launch of the inquiry in Brisbane in September.
“Our community embraces this inquiry as we know this opportunity will place our truth to Australia,” Mayor Simpson said at the time.
The LNP’s intention to axe the Path To Treaty process was announced in October last year, following the overwhelming “No” vote in the Federal Government’s “Voice” referendum.
The “No” campaign had been championed by Nationals leader and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud.
“The Nationals were the first to say No. And Australians said No,” Mr Littleproud said on the one-year anniversary of the referendum, earlier this month.
- Download: Truth-Telling And Healing Inquiry – Report 1 (1.85Mb PDF)
UPDATE: The Information Day will still go ahead on Minjerribah on Saturday.
Related articles:
- Truth Team Visits Cherbourg
- Mayor Backs Truth-Telling Inquiry
- Members Of Treaty Bodies Named
- LNP Ditches Support For Treaty
- Truth, Treaty Advice Given To MPs
- Community ‘Yarn’ On Truth, Treaty
- Premier Promises Treaty Legislation
- Next Step Taken On Path To Treaty
- EOIs Sought For Path To Treaty
- Webinar Update On Treaty Process
- Treaty Process Inches Forward
- Treaty Committee To Be Set Up
- Treaty Recommendations Handed Over
- Treaty Meeting In Cherbourg
- Treaty Conversation To Start
- Queensland Starts Path To Treaty
Such a shame… You buried the Voice and now the Pathway. Where to now LNP?
https://www.lnp.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/LNP-The-Right-Priorities-for-Queenslands-Future-Dec-2023.pdf
The ‘policy’ appears meaningless. Can you announce how Ministers will be held accountable? Eg.if Naplan results for Indigenous kids increase by less than 10% the Education Minister gets sacked? If the life expectancy gap is not closed the Health Minister resigns?
This decision is wrong and short-sighted.
It is unlikely the crime goal will now be achieved in this term of government based on this decision.
What makes it worse, is no alternative is being offered to enable Aboriginal people to walk through a journey of healing, so that those who have never lost their identity, been separated from family, or been forced to live in locations not of their choosing, have an understanding of the forever impact historical decisions have in setting up inter-generational trauma from unresolved loss.
Are affluent Australians really that afraid of holding space for uncomfortable conversations?
Reinstate the truth-telling part and decide after that what the next step could be.