Yoorrook Justice Commission urges submission before November deadline to record Victoria's "real" history

Dechlan Brennan
Dechlan Brennan Published October 12, 2024 at 5.00am (AWST)

The Yoorrook Justice Commission is urging people in Victoria to make submissions before they close on November 22.

The historic truth-telling hearings, the first of their kind in the country's history, have set about recording the "true" history of Victoria since the beginning of colonisation.

The hearings have seen multiple ministers - including the Victorian Premier - as well as department heads front the inquiry.

It has also seen several descendants of colonisers give evidence about their experiences.

Speaking to National Indigenous Times on Friday, Commissioners Travis Lovett and Sue-Anne Hunter called on those who haven't made a submission yet - both Indigenous and non-Indigenous - to do so.

"Once people understand the truth, then you can't shy away from it," Commissioner Hunter, a Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman, said.

She noted the submissions would become a permanent and important part of history, while offering a healing aspect for some people in sharing their own history.

"The oppressor always gets to write history, or the people in power. And now it's our turn," she said, saying it was a chance for "our voices" and "our stories" to be told on the public record forever.

"Whether it's our strengths or the systemic injustices that has happened to us, either way, it's on the public record," she said.

"It's also there for your families to know your history; for others to know your history."

Commissioner Lovett, a Kerrupmara/Gunditjmara man, said the hearings had also highlighted the strength and resistance of Aboriginal people's contribution to Victoria.

"Whether it be in war; whether it be through political advocacy," he said.

"When we write recommendations for Yoorrook, its recommendations that impact all Victorians in a positive way.

"The contributions that our people have made to the state of Victoria are significant. And that's not even talking about the economic prosperity that we bring to the state of Victoria…just from a human contribution to society."

Both Commissioners said the submissions didn't need to be arduous, or a written essay. Anything, from a video, to sound recording, to even drawings, can be submitted.

"We've had a poem on a napkin given to us" Commissioner Hunter said.

Commissioner Hunter said Victoria's truth-telling hearing is a chance to be a part of history. (Image: Brianna Young)

The pair emphasised the importance of the hearings as a historic event that would allow people to tell their own and their family's stories, in a sphere of truth-telling and understanding.

"You're helping further educate Victorians and Australians and people across the world on what really happened to our people here in Victoria," Commissioner Lovett said.

"The importance of the official public record around having our narrative built into what really happened to our people. Land was illegally taken. That's not our Aboriginal truth. That's an actual fact."

They also highlighted that for Mob, there is free legal and mental assistance available for those who require help to tell their story.

Furthermore, the two emphasised the role non-Indigenous people play, in engaging with Yoorrook's evidence, the hearings, and the wider truth-telling spectre in Victoria.

"We're not asking individuals to say sorry, we never have," Commissioner Lovett said.

"We're asking the institutions to step up that have negatively and disproportionately impacted our people's lives."

Pointing to a nearby apartment, Commissioner Lovett said he wasn't asking for the residents to say they are sorry.

Instead, it is about recognising "that this actually has happened," Commissioner Lovett said.

"That's part of the work that we're trying to do around establishing the official public record…not Aboriginal truths…this is the true history of Victoria."

Commissioner Hunter said it was important to note the acts of colonisation may look different than they did in the past, but they were still happening.

"So how do we rectify that?" she asked.

"The only way I can rectify that is by people coming telling their truths."

Submissions for Yoorrook close on November 22, and can be submitted online.

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National Indigenous Times

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