The Greens will push for the federal parliament to vote on legislation establishing a Makarrata truth and justice commission, claiming Labor has “failed to offer any pathway forward” on First Nations policy since the failed voice referendum.
A Makarrata commission – a body that would run national processes for truth-telling and treaty – had been promised as “a priority” by the Albanese government.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, told Guardian Australia in June that he was “continuing to consult” on the process. He flagged attending the Garma festival in Arnhem Land in August, vowing he would be “listening to people in communities, rather than people in Canberra making decisions going forward”.
On Sunday, the Greens unveiled draft legislation, to be tabled in parliament this week, seeking to establish a truth and justice commission. The body would “be empowered to inquire into particular matters relating to historic and ongoing injustices against First Peoples in Australia and the impacts of these injustices on First Peoples, and make recommendations to parliament”.
Dorinda Cox, a Greens senator and Yamatji Noongar woman, said Australia’s first peoples “have been waiting for the opportunity to not just tell our truths, but to have Australia deeply listen to our experiences, past and present, as the oldest living culture in the world”.
“We want Australians to know that in this process we will begin to heal as a nation, we will understand that the work that we do now must be grounded in our self-determination to chart our pathway forward to achieve better outcomes for First Nations people, communities and our collective futures.”
The moves come amid calls from First Nations leaders to progress the truth-telling process and concern that political will for reform has disappeared following the voice referendum defeat.
The Greens’ leader, Adam Bandt, said misinformation during the referendum campaign showed the need “for a deeper discussion about the truth of our country’s history”.
“Since the referendum, which left a lot of people hurting, Labor has failed to offer any pathway forward,” Bandt said.
Linda Burney, the minister for Indigenous Australians, told the ABC the government would “take our time to make sure we get this right”.
“We’re working very collaboratively with states and territories in terms of treaty and truth-telling processes … what First Nations people are saying to me is that we need time to think about the next steps.”
