Queensland’s historic truth-telling and healing inquiry will begin on 1 July as the government moves ahead on its path to treaty with the state’s First Nations people.
The state government on Friday made long-awaited announcements about the members of the inquiry and First Nations Treaty Institute.
The landmark path to treaty legislation was passed in a regional parliament sitting in Cairns last May and heralded as a “history-making moment”. But how will it work?
What is the truth-telling and healing inquiry?
The inquiry will investigate the history of colonisation in Queensland and provide a platform to listen to and share First Nations’ stories and culture.
It is expected to travel the state to hear from First Nations peoples, be established for a minimum period of three years and report its findings to the Queensland government.
What is the Treaty Institute?
The First Nations Treaty Institute is a statutory body that will act independently of the government.
It has been legislated to develop a framework for treaty-making, consult with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and support them to share the effects of colonisation on their communities.
Members of the First Nations Treaty Institute Council are:
Albert Bowie
Seleena Blackley
Prof Valerie Cooms
Michelle Deshong
Dr Janine Gertz
Dr Tracey Harbour
Assoc Prof Phillip Mills OAM
Prof Cindy Shannon AM
David Saylor
Ivy Trevallion
Who’s on the inquiry?
Barrister and Waanyi and Kalkadoon man, Joshua Creamer, will serve as the chair of the five-member truth-telling and healing inquiry. He was named National Indigenous Legal Professional of the Year and specialises in human rights, class actions and native title.
Other members include the former judge of the supreme court of Queensland, Roslyn Atkinson, Indigenous lawyer Ivan Ingram, chief executive of the Torres Strait Regional Authority, Vonda Malone, and co-chair of the interim truth and treaty body, Cheryl Buchanan.
What does the inquiry have to do with treaty?
The inquiry is an opportunity to reflect on and uncover the truth of the past ahead of a treaty or treaties with the First Nations people of Queensland.
The chair of the inquiry, Joshua Creamer, said it is a “significant step for Queensland to take towards a better future”.
“Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been seeking truth-telling and healing for a long time,” he said in a statement.
“We work to acknowledge the complete history of the colonisation of Queensland.”
The minister for treaty, Leeanne Enoch, said the path to treaty “will advance the Queensland government’s commitment to closing the gap”.
“The inquiry and Institute Council members will play a pivotal role in building community understanding of Queensland’s shared history and support the healing process for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, non-Indigenous peoples and communities.”
Does it have bipartisan support?
No. The path to treaty was passed with bipartisan support last May but the Liberal National party opposition will repeal the legislation if elected in October.
The leader of the opposition, David Crisafulli, said in May he hoped the bill could be “the catalyst for true accountability of government” and improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
But in October, Crisafulli claimed a path to treaty was “not the right way forward” for Queensland.
He referenced the separate national referendum result on the First Nations voice to parliament and claimed “pursuing a path to treaty will lead to greater division, not reconciliation, and I cannot support that.”
Guardian Australia contacted the opposition leader for comment on Friday and was told these remarks still stand.
In parliament earlier this month, Enoch accused the LNP of “turning their backs” on First Nations people after the party’s backflip on treaty.
Are other states pursuing treaties?
South Australia was the first state to enact an Indigenous voice to parliament last March.
The First Peoples’ Assembly in Victoria, a democratically elected Indigenous body, is expected to begin negotiations for a state-wide treaty with the government this year. It was the first state to hold a formal truth telling process through the Yoorook Justice Commission.
The New South Wales government is lagging behind the other states and will start consulting with communities across the state about treaty later this year.
