Andrews’ Indigenous truth-telling mission rings hollow after hotel quarantine inquiry

Lectures on Indigenous “truth-telling” are nauseating given Daniel Andrews and the “do-not-recall” brigade’s appearance at the hotel quarantine inquiry.

Visitors learning about Aboriginal art during a Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience. Picture: Tourism NT.

Every Australian I know wants Australia’s Indigenous people to have the best opportunities possible in life.

These are the opportunities and outcomes afforded every Australian: the best possible education, health, security, safety, artistic pursuits, freedoms.

Every Australian — new and old to this nation — comes with a history. Every Australian has a story — some of it is hidden, some celebrated, some incredibly sad, some of loss, some of pure joy, of rags to riches, of riches to greater riches.

Yet in Victoria in recent weeks, we have found ourselves made to feel unjustifiably guilty.

We have basically been told by our Premier we are liars. That we do not tell the truth. That we are deprivers of justice.

It’s pretty gutting. And it’s totally unfair.

In announcing the Yoo-rrook Justice Commission (Yoo-rrook meaning truth), Daniel Andrews said it would be a “truth-telling” forum about the impacts of colonisation and to bring about change, and treaty, for Aboriginal people.

It will be “afforded the full power of a royal commission” and, in an ominous sign for the already perilous state budget, the Acting Premier James Merlino said “the commission would determine how much the process costs”.

Imagine if the same approach was taken to the West Gate Tunnel: “Dear Transurban, please build a big tunnel and you can decide how much it costs. We suspect it’ll be heaps. But go for it.”

However, the real issue is the Premier’s introductory words to Victoria’s “Truth and Justice process” — words are spoken through the prism of innate white-fault. His statement started: “Today has been owed for 233 years. 233 years of violence, dispossession and deprivation. 233 years of deliberate silence. Today we commit to telling the truth.”

We should consider our collective bottoms figuratively and firmly smacked.

The first line is telling in itself: that we “owe” something. Most Australians believe we have given enormously, and still do.

The commonwealth, state and territory governments consistently spend, per capita, double on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than on the non-Indigenous.

The figure is more than double if indirect spending is included, such as funding to the states for Aboriginal purposes. In 2015-16 the federal government directly spent $14.7bn in the Indigenous people’s space.

I understand the Premier’s use of the word “owe” in this instance refers to more than just money. But it’s a good start, given most of these debates tend to head in the direction of financial reparation.

I also note all the billions given to date have not resolved the Indigenous issues involving disadvantage.

Financial matters aside, it is the words “commit to telling the truth” and “telling their truth” that have jarred with many.

It begs the question: who has been telling lies? Who hasn’t been telling the truth?

Australians — Victorians — openly acknowledge the difficult start to British settlement in Australia. We know there were deaths — on both “sides” — health impacts, children taken from parents, lives altered, even dreams shattered.

Books have been written. Debates have been had. We have said a national “sorry”. Yet despite this, we are still told we are neither facing nor telling the truth.

Such a lecture on truth is nauseating for those who watched Daniel Andrews and the “do-not-recall” brigade who, in their own “inquiry’ into the hotel quarantine debacle last year, clearly thought the truth was for others to tell.

I’m sure Justice Jennifer Coate would have appreciated the Premier taking a big gulp of his own advice in November.

Following the announcement, Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe said “We’ve been oppressed in this country for over 200 years … the colonial undertones are rife through every commonwealth country … it’s about white supremacy.”

So much for the extraordinary Indigenous people who are outstanding citizens, sportspeople, doctors, lawyers, parents, teachers, artists, dancers, carers, professionals … and politicians.

Just as most Australians do not commit rape, or murder, or manslaughter, or deal drugs or are paedophiles, most Australians are also not racist. We actually want to Advance Australia Fair.

The Australians I know don’t see colour; they see a person. They don’t tell lies; they tell the truth. Who has a desire for anything else? And if they see disadvantage, they want it addressed not based on identity but need. 

There are some in the Aboriginal community, such as Jacinta Price and Anthony Dillon, who acknowledge many of the problems emanate from within the community itself; for example, the violence directed towards women and children. As Price points out, Aborigines “are dying at a far greater rate at the hands of other Aboriginal people”.   

I wish this truth and justice process well.

I look forward to hearing all the truths, and not just some.

Beverley McArthur is the Liberal Member for Western Victoria Region