The chair of Queensland's now paused Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry says he heard about the Inquiry being shut down through the media, despite new premier David Crisafulli saying it would be done with "respect and decency".
On Thursday, Mr Crisafulli told reporters Path to Treaty legislation would be repealed later this year, and the truth-telling events planned for December would not take place.
"We won't be allowing those to go ahead, but it will be done with respect and decency," Mr Crisafulli said.
"We've made a decision. It's the right decision, and we stand by it. But I don't want to cause angst to people."
Despite claims of respect and decency, the inquiry's chair, barrister and Waanyi and Kalkadoon man, Joshua Creamer, said he first heard about the decision through the media.
"I was not advised in advance of the press conference and have not had any communication with the Premier's office following the announcement," Mr Creamer said in a statement on social media.
"My team were taken by surprise because the closure of the Inquiry was not included in the new government's 100-day plan."
The new premier said he didn't want to make it a "divisive issue", something Mr Creamer questioned.
"The protests of division are inaccurate and are inconsistent with the terms of reference of (the) Inquiry which calls for reconciliation," he said.
"Prior to the election I wrote to all MPs with an invitation to meet to discuss the work of the Inquiry."
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Mr Crisafulli said his new government doesn't believe truth-telling will be something "that unites the community" and urged people to "put their focus into the areas that can drive change," citing home ownership and lifting education standards.
The premier withdrew his previous support for the inquiry after the Voice referendum last year - which saw Queensland overwhelmingly vote no - calling it "one of the most divisive debates in my life".
However, truth-telling was not part of the debate.
It is not understood why the new LNP government deem the truth-telling inquiry, which has heard stories of massacres and frontier policing in newly colonised Queensland, as divisive.
The hearings, which began in September, heard from seven heads of government departments, including Police Commissioner Gollschewski, who admitted they had "failed" Aboriginal people "for 160 years"—in some cases, going so far as to deliberately kill them.
Mr Creamer said "It became evident in the government truth-telling session in September that Government has failed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for 165 years".
"This Inquiry would provide a practical roadmap for government and the community on how to change that outcome. However, we are now left with a decision that continues the legacy of failure."
He added: "With this decision we have let down many people across the State. Most of all we have let down those people whose evidence will now be lost to the passing of time."
Queensland Human Rights Commissioner, Scott McDougall, said the decision by the LNP government was "gravely disappointing".
"Queensland's Treaty and Truth-Telling are integral parts of our reconciliation process. Telling the truth about our past and accepting our shared histories is where healing begins for Queensland and how we advance better outcomes for First Nations communities," he said.
Commissioner McDougall urged the government to pause their decision until they could sit down with Mr Creamer and First Nations leaders.
"This should be a considered decision, made in consultation with First Nations communities in Queensland," he said.
The community-led information sessions Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) will go ahead this weekend, but with the inquiry not attending due to the pause, with Mr Creamer apologising to the communities for having to make the decision.
"I want to acknowledge the hurt that I know many are feeling as a result of this unprecedented attack," he said.
"Despite being devastated by the decision, my team are working hard to understand what next for the Inquiry."
