Treaty Minister Leeanne Enoch breaks silence on government’s commitment

Queensland’s Treaty Minister Leeanne Enoch has broken her silence to defend the government’s commitment to the Path to Treaty process as Premier’s words cast doubt.

Queensland’s Treaty Minister Leeanne Enoch has ended a week of silence to categorically declare the government’s commitment to Path to Treaty after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s equivocation sparked fierce internal backlash.

Left-leaning ministers on Friday scrambled to publicly recast Ms Palaszczuk’s seeming waver from Labor’s key promise of forging ahead with the treaty process, insisting “nothing has changed” on the government’s stance.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in Brisbane this week. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewWire

Hours after Transport Minister Mark Bailey and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman affirmed the state government was pushing ahead with the imminent truth-telling process, the Premier’s office declared “everyone is on the same page”.

It came after Ms Palaszczuk on Thursday repeatedly said treaty negotiations needed “bipartisan support” when asked if she would forge ahead without the LNP after the Opposition pulled their backing.

Ms Palaszczuk’s comments shocked colleagues and enraged the Left faction, sparking a snap meeting of Labor caucus on Thursday to clarify the government’s stance and allay fears the government was backing away from a significant commitment and departing from core party values.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli no longer supports a Path to Treaty. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewWire

Laws allowing Queensland to forge ahead with the three-year truth-telling process followed by a long process of treaty negotiations with First Nations peoples were passed in parliament in May with support from the LNP.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, in the aftermath of Queensland’s resounding rejection of the Voice referendum, revealed the LNP could “no longer support a Path to Treaty” and would not move ahead with it if elected after determining the process would “only create further division”.

Ms Enoch, ending her silence after a week of mourning the rejection of the Voice, said the government was “committed to the path to treaty”.

“Truth-telling over the coming years is the first step on that path,” she said.

“When it comes to the success of the long-term proposition of treaties, the Premier is correct when she says treaty needs bipartisan support.”

Ms Enoch lashed the Opposition for “turning their backs” on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and said she was “appalled” by the decision.

The independent body steering Queensland’s treaty and truth process also slammed the LNP’s decision as a “profound mistake” and a displayed the “weakness in leadership and timidity of spirit” of the Opposition.

Leeanne Enoch said the Opposition had turned its back on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Ms Fentiman said the state government was “committed to the path to treaty and that hasn’t changed”.

“We’ve always said this historic legislation, this process, should have bipartisan support. Of course it should. This should be above politics,” she said.

Mr Bailey accused large swathes of the media of “misreporting” the meaning behind the Premier’s own words when she repeatedly said treaty would require bipartisan support.

He insisted Ms Palaszczuk was “stating something that’s been known for a long time”.

“We’ve always said from the beginning of the treaty process ... four years ago, that we would seek bipartisan support,” he said.

Mr Crisafulli, seizing on Labor’s internal turbulence, said he was “not sure what the government’s position is” on Treaty.

“Our position is very clear, and we believe that is the clearest way to make sure Queenslanders know we’ve listened and we’re keen to unite.”

Originally published as Treaty Minister Leeanne Enoch breaks silence on government’s commitment