Truth telling scrapped, but Qld Indigenous communities push on with events

Queensland Indigenous communities have pushed ahead with planned events despite the LNP government scrapping a truth telling and healing inquiry.

Premier David Crisafulli

Indigenous Queenslanders are pushing ahead with planned Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry sessions despite the state LNP government axing it days after coming to power.

Sessions of the landmark inquiry scheduled for North Stradbroke Island in December were cancelled after Premier David Crisafulli said last week the government would not be allowing them.

Inquiry chair Joshua Creamer and seven staff had been due to visit North Stradbroke Island on Saturday for a community meeting ahead of a hearing scheduled later this year.

While they did not attend, the island’s Indigenous community defied Mr Crisafulli and mobilised for a meeting to “amplify the critical importance” of the inquiry.

Similar meetings could be held in Doomadgee and Cherbourg.

Mr Crisafulli said the inquiry’s cancellation would be done with respect and decency, but he nor new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Fiona Simpson have met Mr Creamer or responded to his request for an urgent meeting.

“There’s been a huge wave of support and condemnation from the decision,” he said.

“You can’t say respect and decency and then do something in direct odds with that.”

Mr Creamer said the anger and hurt in communities was logical.

Stradbroke’s Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders in Council Aboriginal Corporation said cancelling the inquiry undermined Indigenous people.

“This decision represents a significant step backward for the government on First Nations justice issues, dismissing the urgent calls from our communities for meaningful truth-telling and healing,” it said.

Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry chair Joshua Creamer

“If the inquiry is pulled completely, the implications of this decision will reverberate for generations.

“We call on the Crisafulli government to reaffirm its commitment to the ongoing truth-telling and healing journey that our communities have initiated. Our Elders are ready to share their stories.”

The inquiry was launched on July 1 to provide a public platform to share and record stories, build knowledge about First Nations history and culture and reframe their relationship with the government.

Its axing drew condemnation from the Australian Human Rights Commission and Mr Creamer, who said the “attack” on an independent inquiry by a premier was unprecedented in state history.

The granddaughters of Eddie and Bonita Mabo family – Neta-Rie, Mahalia, Maria, Cathryn, Hannah and Peta – issued a joint statement slamming the decision as deeply concerning.

“By halting this process, LNP are denying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the basic dignity of having our histories and experiences acknowledged,” they said.

“To disregard this opportunity for truth telling is not only to dismiss our past but to continue imposing a narrative that erases our stories and perspectives.”

The LNP cancelled its support for the Path to Treaty process due to the “division” caused by the Voice to Parliament referendum.

The Mabo family, however, argued it failed due to a lack of information, not because Queenslanders wanted to deny Indigenous rights or history.

“Such decisions only deepen mistrust, perpetuate harm, and send a damaging message that our voices and experiences are secondary,” they said.

“This undermines any genuine attempts at reconciliation and it signals a reversion to outdated assimilationist ideologies that have long been discredited.”

Originally published as Truth telling scrapped, but Qld Indigenous communities push on with events