The Victorian Government has committed itself to establishing a truth and justice process to formally recognise historic wrongs and address ongoing injustices for Aboriginal Victorians.
In a statement, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Gabrielle Williams announced that the historic process will be the first of its kind anywhere in Australia.
“In partnership with the First Peoples’ Assembly, work will begin immediately to determine the terms of reference and how the process will work,” Ms Williams said.
“The Assembly – as the state’s first and only democratically-elected body for Aboriginal people – will play a key role in ensuring Aboriginal communities are heard in all stages of planning, design and implementation,” she said.
“Assembly members last month voted – in one of its first formal motions – for the state government to set up a truth and justice process.”
Ms Williams said similar processes had been established in countries such as South Africa, Canada and New Zealand.
She said the process meant that Victoria was the first and only jurisdiction to have actioned the Treaty and Truth elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
“Other truth telling processes have played an important role in reconciliation by uncovering and acknowledging past human-rights violations and ongoing injustices towards First Peoples,” she said.
“Truth telling also recognises the incredible strength and survival of Aboriginal people – ensuring their voices are heard and respected.”
Ms Williams said reforms were already underway across Government to address issues that continued to disproportionately impact Aboriginal Victorians, including more social housing and changes to address the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the justice system.
