Queensland has taken its first steps toward a treaty, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announcing a First Nations Treaty Institute and a Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry, both to be established in legislation.
In announcing the move, the premier said it marked a historic step towards reconciliation.
"We stand together at an incredible moment of time in the history of our state,'' said Palaszczuk
"What we do next on the Path to Treaty will define our humanity, our sense of fairness, and the legacy we leave our children."
"We can't change the past, but together we can create a new future for our state," Ms Palaszczuk said.
Treaty process backed
Dr Jackie Huggins spoke during the event at Parliament House. Source: AAP
"The Path to Treaty is about how we mend the very fabric of our society," she said.
"We want all Queenslanders to walk side-by-side with us on the Path to Treaty, so that we can overcome those huge injustices that still, unfortunately, persist in our society.
"Treaty - it's a signed, negotiated agreement that accepts our true history. It opens the doors to our shared future, and it's an agreement between two or more parties.
"It's about having those very respectful conversations that we need to have."
Mick Gooda, Treaty Advancement Committee co-chair, said the journey to treaty starts with the truth.
"Truth-telling builds the bridge of understanding from which the treaty process can then proceed," he said.
"We know that truth-telling is central to the healing we must all go through, without the truth we will never heal properly.
"This healing is what we all will need, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous people alike.
"Telling the truth will be traumatic and difficult for those involved, especially as the current impacts flow from recent history in terms of removal of children, dispossession and the ongoing impacts of colonisation."
What's in store
The Queensland government released its response to the Treaty Advancement Committee Report as part of the state's Path to Treaty.
"We have accepted all 22 of the report's recommendations either in full or in principle," the premier confirmed.
In a historic ceremony with First Nations leaders and hundreds of guests in attendance, Ms Palaszczuk signed a Statement of Commitment that called on people to "confront our uncomfortable past" in a bid to "live comfortably with the [it], free of blame and rancour".
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Craig Crawford said Tuesday's announcement included concrete actions to advance reconciliation in Queensland.
Minister for Communities and Housing Leeanne Enoch and Member for Cook Cynthia Luiduring the signing of an Indigenous Treaty commitment statement in Brisbane. Source: AAP
"There has never been more momentum across the land for truth and treaty than right now,'' Mr Crawford said.
"The independent First Nations Treaty Institute will be led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and will develop a treaty-making framework for agreement with government to ensure we have equal voices at the negotiating table.
"The treaty-making framework is a fundamental aspect as it will guide Government and community in the treaty negotiation process."
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Mr Crawford said an Independent Interim Body (IIB) consisting of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and others will be in place for the next 12 to 18 months.
"The IIB will first lead local truth-telling initiatives including with public libraries, museums, archives and art galleries to promote a shared understanding and why it's important to know our history.
"Following this, we will establish a formal three-year Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry."
He said the government has committed funding of $10 million per year towards the Path to Treaty, guaranteed for the duration of treaty-making.
Queensland is among a number of states proceeding with treaty negotiations. The Victorian parliament is scheduled to vote on its framework on Tuesday, and the ACT and the Northern Territory are making progress.
South Australia's Labor government had been working towards a treaty, but the process was stopped in 2018 upon the election of a new Liberal leadership.
NSW, Western Australia and Tasmania are not currently working towards a treaty agreement.
