Yoorrook Justice Commission Victoria
Yoorook Commissioner Travis Lovett is walking to Melbourne from his Gunditjmara Country. The Yoorrook website links to many First Nations stories contained in the evidence to the Commission.
The report of the Commission is to be released before the end of this month. Commission Chair Professor Eleanor Bourke AM made an important speech recently to the Melbourne Press Club. She said:
Before colonisation, First Peoples had long been the sovereign custodians of this land.
Our ancestors built nations with systems of law, knowledge, culture, and technology. They endured and adapted through an ice age, mega droughts and rising seas. They read the landscape and seasons, and managed the environment sustainably.
Then in 1834 came the Henty brothers [to Portland, Victoria]. And with them, a wave of settlers that changed everything.
What followed was nothing short of devastation: conflict, mass killings, disease, rape, exclusion, linguicide, cultural erasure and environmental destruction. And later, the removal of children and policies of absorption and assimilation.
Our people resisted. But spears were no match for guns and mounted militias.
Forty-nine recorded massacres of First Peoples were carried out across the state. As Professor Marcia Langton told Yoorrook, this was just ‘the tip of the iceberg’.
From the mid 1800s, surviving First Peoples were confined to missions and reserves, where language and traditions were suppressed and Christianity was forced upon us. We were not allowed to speak our languages.
Ancient cultural heritage, sacred sites and the lands that had nurtured our people for millennia were, at best, disregarded and forcibly suppressed. Or worse, desecrated — cleared, mined and paved over in the name of progress.
Yoorrook heard evidence that the State had generated billions of dollars in wealth from the land from gold, timber, grazing, water and revenues from land sales. None of this wealth has been shared directly with First Peoples.
The Government later changed the so-called “protection” laws — expelling Aboriginal people of mixed heritage from the missions. They were forced to assimilate into a society that refused to recognise or accept them.
Those same laws gave authorities absolute power to take children from their families simply because they were Aboriginal.
This was the beginning of the Stolen Generations — a systemic, state-sanctioned policy that ran well into the 1970s ...
Understand that colonisation wasn’t an event two centuries ago, but a structure set in place back then which continues to impact First Peoples today.
Western Australia redress initiative
Professor Bourke's speech links events that occurred over many decades. So it should: what happened then is still being played out in today's Australia. In the same vein, the Western Australian government has announced a redress scheme offering payments of up to $85,000 each for survivors of the Stolen Generations.
"No amount of money could ever make up for the experience of Stolen Generations members and their families, and the ongoing effects on people's lives," said Premier Roger Cook.
"The Stolen Generations era represents a sorrowful and shameful part of our history and has caused cycles of disadvantage and intergenerational trauma."
Western Australian First Nations people stressed the continuing effects of colonisation. "The impact of removal has been devastating on Aboriginal people — the intergenerational impact is ongoing," said Noongar traditional custodian, Jim Morrison, whose parents and family members were removed. "The reality is, if there was some sort of recognition before now, I believe that the current removal rate of our children wouldn't be as bad, I believe the current incarceration rate wouldn't be as bad. Our world would be different if there was acknowledgement and understanding of this history."
Queensland remains the only jurisdiction without a redress scheme. Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, said she would push for Queensland to also start a redress scheme. "To acknowledge the pain and suffering of survivors is long overdue and deeply important."
Truth-telling in lutruwita Tasmania
The Tasmanian Liberal government has said it will establish a Truth-telling Commission but will no longer pursue a Treaty with First Nations people. There is funding for commissioners and a two-year process, led by First Nations people. According to Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Jackie Petrusma, "The truth-telling and healing process will preserve Tasmanian Aboriginal history and storytelling for future generations; provide Tasmanian Aboriginal people, including Elders, families, children, and young people with a safe and culturally respectful platform to speak their truth, and allow healing to begin".
Some First Nations people welcomed the Truth-telling initiative, others would have preferred Treaty first. Rodney Dillon, member of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Advisory Group for Truth-telling and Treaty, said appointing Tasmanian Aboriginal commissioners was the right approach. "We've had 200 and something years of colonisation and this is the first time we've taken that step, so that's how big and how significant it is."
(How this initiative proceeds, given the current political upheaval in Tasmania, remains to be seen.)
Minister McCarthy drops some hints
The Minister's comment on the WA initiative is above. Twelve months after the defeat of the Voice Referendum, she had said this: "As a government, we remain committed to the principles of truth-telling and Makarrata". More recently, she said this on the ABC on 29 May with Patricia Karvelas:
KARVELAS: I want to move to another topic, and that is a call this week from Pat Dodson, who called for the government to push forward with the National Truth Telling Commission, Makarrata and a treaty process. Are those things that you will look at again? [For Pat Dodson, go here.]
McCARTHY: Well, can I just say with Pat Dodson, who I've worked very closely with in the Senate, I'm just incredibly pleased that he's been able to come through and come out in terms of the media again, given all his own personal challenges. And it's wonderful to see the Father of Reconciliation out there this week in particular. I think it's important what Pat Dodson has said. We have an opportunity now to have a look with our new parliament, with our second term of government, to see what we can do moving forward. One of the things the Prime Minister and I have said with regards to the Uluru Statement from the Heart was that we supported the three principles, Voice, Treaty, Truth, and we've never shied away from that. So, this is the appropriate time for leaders across the country to have their say. And we're listening. [Emphasis added. DC]
KARVELAS: That's a really interesting point you made. He says the referendum was on one question and that was constitutional change. For a Voice, Australia clearly voted no, but he made the point that treaty and truth were not on the ballot paper and they weren't. So, does that mean you think that is an opportunity to revisit these important principles?
McCARTHY: Well, there were a number of things that weren't on the ballot paper. It wasn't just treaty and truth, it was also Welcome to Countries, Patricia. And we saw how the Opposition wanted to use culture wars through the election to determine what that outcome of the referendum was. And our country thankfully voted no against hate, voted no against culture wars and supported us in moving forward. And I take that not only as the Minister for Indigenous Australians, but also as a Yanyuwa Garrawa woman in the Labor Caucus. I take that as an opportunity for us now, as a Labor government, to. To really have a good look at what we can do in this term.
KARVELAS: Ok, so on Makarrata, it's not dead. You think that it has life in it still?
McCARTHY: Well, like I said, when the referendum was voted down, we never opposed the three principles of what the Uluru Statement from the Heart was Voice, Treaty, Truth. We certainly lost the voice. We did take that to a referendum. So, if this is an opportunity to listen. I was just down in Victoria with the Long Walk. I see the Commissioner, in terms of the Yoorrook Report, walking to take that report to the Parliament in terms of truth telling [see above. DC]. I see what's happening in Tasmania [see above. DC]. The states are taking the lead on this. I want to understand what's happening with the Voice in South Australia in terms of their legislation. This is a time for us to come together and see what we can do moving forward. [Emphasis added. DC]
KARVELAS: Ok. So, as Minister for Indigenous Australians, you do want to commit to those principles and try to advance them in this term, this second Albanese government term?
McCARTHY: We've never shied away from the principles. Patricia. I understand, listening to Pat Dodson and many other leaders, that they may want something to happen specifically now, but even Pat Dodson would know that we still have processes within the Labor Caucus. We have a First Nations caucus to meet. We've got to be sworn into Parliament at the end of July. There's still a road to go. But can I say to your viewers, I am very much open to listening to what people have to say. [Emphasis added. DC]
KARVELAS: Yeah, because people have been frustrated that some of these issues have been abandoned. You say the principles are important, but there has been a sense that the government hasn't wanted to advance them. You're saying that the election victory provides a new mandate for the government?
McCARTHY: I'm saying that the election victory shows that our country said no to hate, our country said no to culture wars and our country said we are proud of Welcome to Countries and standing in front of the flag.
KARVELAS: And so, does that message also mean that you think having some sort of national truth telling process is necessary for that reconciliation process and healing to happen?
McCARTHY: Well, I think you had Linda Burney on your program yesterday, talk about truth telling in terms of local areas. I mean, truth telling can occur within school environments and committees and communities across the country. What I'm saying in terms of my role as Indigenous Affairs Minister, is that I'm ready to listen to see what possibilities there could be in going forward. [Emphasis added. DC]
What baggage did Senator Cox bring with her?
Out of the West came the news that Senator Dorinda Cox, former Green, was joining Labor. Putting aside whatever complex set of reasons lay behind this move, Defending Country focussed on one thing: would the Senator's strong interest in Truth-telling continue with her change of party allegiance? As a Green in the last Parliament, Senator Cox introduced (with Senator Shoebridge) a Bill for a Truth and Justice Commission, which was referred to the parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (JSCATSIA), for an Inquiry, perhaps as a diversion of those who were pushing for Makaratta.
The Inquiry received 239 submissions, including one from Defending Country (no. 76), and held public hearings, but, as is the convention, the Inquiry lapsed with the dissolution of the Parliament. After the election and as a Green, Senator Cox was to move her Bill again. Will she do so as a Labor member or will Labor take it up as a government? Will someone else move the Bill?
The ABC report had these quotes from Senator Cox on 14 May:
"Labor do have the ability, it's only going to take courage," Senator Cox told the ABC's Indigenous Affairs Team."The failed Voice referendum meant that we needed to pivot into a new chapter, and truth-telling and treaty are the new chapter."If Labor is really serious about supporting First Nations rights … they will deliver on those issues."I hope they would be brave enough."Defending Country argues that proper Truth-telling at the Australian War Memorial would be a significant precursor to Makaratta. It does not require Makaratta to be in existence.
What it all comes down to ...
Has the post-Voice torpor passed then? Will Labor's resounding election win encourage it to boldness? Are there forces out there prepared to move things along on Truth-telling and Treaty? Voice campaigner (and one of Defending Country's distinguished Patrons) Thomas Mayo was hopeful after the Minister's remarks reported above: "We know that the door is open now, from what the minister has said, and there'll undoubtedly be some discussions in the near future". He urged Labor to be "courageous" after its big election win.
Tom Calma, former Chair of Reconciliation Australia, was also sanguine: "We know the concept [of truth telling], but I think the how-to is what I think will be the challenge and that's why it's encouraging to hear it's not dead for this term".
We noted Prime Minister Albanese's remarks straight after the election of 3 May. This stood out: "We will be a government that supports reconciliation with First Nations people, because we will be a stronger nation when we close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians". The Commemoration Gap - the one the War Memorial needs to start filling - stands alongside the other Gaps.
Ultimately, much if not all will depend on the Prime Minister. In First Nations matters, will he grasp the opportunity of Labor's massive win or will he coast?
Picture credit: Cummeragunja Station 1893 (Wikimedia Commons). Cummeragunja was the scene of a walk-off in 1939 in response to decades of mistreatment and abuse by the NSW Aborigines Protection Board.
More from
General
category
