The Allies for Uluru, a coalition of more than 300 member organisations who stand in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in support of voice, treaty and truth have called on the Queensland government to allow the state's Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry to continue.
The inquiry was frozen last month after incoming Queensland Premier, David Crisafulli confirmed his government would abolish the inquiry as well as repeal the state's Path to Treaty Act.
The move was widely condemned by members of the Indigenous community, including First Nations Human Rights Commissioner Katie Kiss while taking the Inquiry's chair, Joshua Creamer, by surprise.
Following the announcement, groups including The Healing Foundation, the Independent Education Union - Queensland and Northern Territory and the National Network of Councils of Social Service also shared their disapproval.
On Thursday the Allies for Uluru (the Allies) joined the chorus of voices speaking out in opposition to the Queensland Government's decision.
They said the Inquiry is the culmination of years of dedicated work and is a vitally important step on Queensland's Path to Treaty, a process that has the broad support of First Nations leadership and communities across the state, as well as the nation.
Oxfam chief executive Lyn Morgain said the Allies implored the Queensland Government to let the state's Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry continue.
"Countless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples deserve to have their stories heard and their truth acknowledged," Ms Morgain said.
"Stopping now would shatter dreams of reconciliation and deny generations the chance for truth, justice, and healing."
The Allies said the Queensland Government should "act with decency and respect" by allowing the Inquiry to proceed and supporting First Nations peoples to have their voices and truths heard.
Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTAR) national director, Blake Cansdale, labelled Premier Crisafulli's decision to shut down the independent inquiry "a shameful act of government".
"The truth of Australia's shared history between First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians is just that, it's the truth," Mr Cansdale said.
"It must be told and all Australians must embrace it as part of their own story, then and only then can we move forward as a nation towards a better future for all Australians."
The Allies say the Queensland government should not be afraid to let the truth be told. They say the path towards reconciliation and closing the gap for First Nations peoples must be self-determined and built on a solid foundation of truth.
The Fred Hollows Foundation's director of social justice and regional engagement, Jaki Adams, said the Queensland Government's reluctance to fully commit to the Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry risks undermining decades of work toward genuine reconciliation for all Australians.
This Inquiry is not a formality – it's a promise to generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who deserve to see justice and truth upheld in their lifetimes," Ms Adams said.
"To halt or diminish this process would not only betray those communities but also fracture Australia's national journey toward voice, treaty, and truth.
"We urge the government to continue the journey to honour its responsibility and allow this process to continue, because reconciliation cannot move forward if truth is left behind."
Calls from The Allies come after Mr Creamer, speaking at this week's National Reconciliation Action Plan Conference, said he had yet to receive direct communication from the Premier regarding the suspension.
"It's disappointing; you'd expect better leadership out of someone who's talking about respect and decency," Mr Creamer said.
In announcing the move last week, Premier Crisafulli said his government made the "right decision, and we stand by it".
"…but my strong advice to people running that process is the new government has been very clear that we are not embarking on that process," Mr Crisafulli said.
