The Queensland Government's move to repeal the Path to Treaty Act 2023 and end the Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry has drawn widespread disappointment from First Nations communities in Queensland and across Australia.
The 2024 National RAP Conference will convene in Meanjin (Brisbane) on Wednesday, bringing together 900 Reconciliation Action Plan partners and supporters.
Truth-telling will be a major focus, with a plenary panel discussing its role in reconciliation at 11 am, featuring representatives from the Queensland Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry and the Victorian Yoorrook Justice Commission.
At 12 pm, a media briefing will follow with Joshua Creamer, Chairperson of the Inquiry, Sue-Anne Hunter, Commissioner of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, and Karen Mundine, CEO of Reconciliation Australia.
Mr Creamer confirmed receiving formal notification from the government to suspend the Inquiry's activities, pending the repeal of the Path to Treaty Act.
The communication, received on 4 November 2024 from the Minister for Women and Women's Economic Security, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, and Multiculturalism, was unexpected despite prior public discussions.
Mr Creamer noted that significant progress had been made, including hearings, community engagements, and the publication of an initial report on 25 October 2024.
"We have met with communities and gathered crucial evidence that documents the lived experiences of Queensland's Indigenous peoples," Mr Creamer said.
He highlighted that the Inquiry united Queenslanders seeking an authentic record of history and underscored that government support is vital for such processes, ensuring necessary protections for participants.
"It's a lost opportunity for our state and generation," he said.
"This is the last generation with individuals who experienced life under the protection Acts, which led to family separations and community displacements."
Mr Creamer expressed concern that the stories and evidence of many witnesses could be lost as time runs out.
"People are literally dying before they have the opportunity to share their story," he said.
He described the Inquiry's formation as a historic moment, fulfilling generations of calls for truth-telling.
The Inquiry has now sought legal advice and decided it cannot proceed at this stage but will continue to seek clarity from the government on the decision and its support for participants and staff.
A press conference with Mr Creamer is set for 12 pm on Wednesday, 6 November, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
