Two Co-Chairs and members of Queensland’s first Treaty Advancement Committee have been formalised.
Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Treaty Advancement Committee would continue the momentum of the Path to Treaty process, develop options and provide independent advice on how to progress treaty-making for all Queenslanders.
“Queensland has achieved many great things, but as part of that, we need to acknowledge the past,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Our story began more than 60,000 years ago with our First Nations Peoples. Path to Treaty is about acknowledging the past and plotting a way forward for a new future between First Nation’s peoples and all Queenslanders.”
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Craig Crawford said it was only by walking a path built on a foundation of mutual respect, agreement, and truthfulness that the relationship could truly be reframed
“We can now begin to understand each other and heal the wounds accrued over 250 years of recent history, and start to build new stories together,” Mr Crawford said.
“It is great to see these esteemed and expert leaders appointed to the Treaty Advancement Committee, as they build on the work done over the last 18 months of the Eminent Panel and Treaty Working Group.”
He said the committee would engage all Queenslanders in shaping the next steps on the Path to Treaty, including a process to support truth-telling — “an important community priority that arose from the 2019 consultations”.
The members of the Treaty Advancement Committee are Jackie Huggins and Mick Gooda (Co-chairs) with members Michael Lavarch; Josephine Bourne and Sallyanne Atkinson.
