Victoria to launch first ever ‘truth-telling process’ to get ‘justice’ for Aboriginal Australians – after Black Lives Matter protests swept the country
- Victoria will hold an indigenous truth and justice process to heal past wrongs
- It is said to be an important step towards reconciliation and building trust
- The process will cover past and present issues to seek justice for Aboriginals
Victoria will launch a ‘truth-telling process’ to examine issues faced by Aboriginal Australians after Black Lives Matter protests demanded change.
The commission will seek to tell the ‘complete story’ of past and present indigenous issues.
It is being described as an important step for uncovering human rights violations and ongoing injustices toward indigenous people.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gabrielle Williams said on Saturday the process was the first of its kind in Australia.
Victoria will launch a ‘truth-telling process’ with Aboriginal Australians to deal with inustic(pictured, Aboriginal protesters in Sydney on July 5)
‘There is nothing more powerful than the truth. Because with honesty comes healing,’ Ms Williams said.
‘It’s going to take courage from all sides to uncover the truths of our past and understand ongoing impacts – establishing this process brings us one step closer to genuine reconciliation.’
Ms Williams said the process would increase trust between indigenous people and state officials.
‘We owe it to Aboriginal Victorians to be frank and honest about the injustices they have faced – and continue to face,’ she said.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gabrielle Williams (pictured) said Australians ‘owed it to Aboriginal Victorians’ due to the injustices they have faced and continue to face
First Peoples’ Assembly Co-chair Marcus Stewart told The Guardian the process was an achievement that was only possible due to decades of activism.
‘I think Victoria has been really good at telling one side of history, and now we have the opportunity to speak our truth,’ he said.
‘It’s one of the most significant milestones that I’ll probably see in my lifetime.’
It follows weeks of protests in Australia where people took to the streets in solidarity of the death of George Floyd, who died after an American policeman knelt on his neck.
Protesters are seen in Melbourne (pictured on June 6) as Australians rallied in support of racial equality
Protests in Australia have also sought to raise awareness of similar issues that Indigenous Australians face.
Marchers held up signs in states and territories around Australia referring to racially disproportional death in custody rates.
Similar measures have been introduced in New Zealand, Canada and South Africa to help right past wrongs inflicted upon native peoples.
New Zealand has set up several discussion bodies with Moari people in the past as well as the Race Relations Conciliator, which have all been welcomed on some level but faced criticism for lacking the power to make real change.
First Peoples’ Assembly Co-chair Marcus Stewart said the launch of the process was the result of decades of activism (pictured, protesters in Sydney on July 5)