Greens leader Adam Bandt says Labor should establish a truth and justice commission

Greens leader Adam Bandt says truth-telling ‘should commence now’ and also reveals what electorates the party has in its sights at the next election.

Greens leader Adam Bandt. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Adam Bandt has urged Anthony Albanese to “act soon” and establish a national truth and justice commission in the wake of the failed referendum, saying it could pave the way for future reforms in Indigenous affairs.

Mr Bandt, who on Sunday marks four years as Greens leader, also revealed his hit list of electorates the party will be targeting in Victoria, NSW and Queensland at the next election and acknowledged that the government may be plunged into minority.

The Greens’ target seats are Richmond in northern NSW, covering towns like Byron Bay, Kingscliff and Tweed Heads, and Macnamara in inner-city Melbourne, which Mr Bandt said was now a genuine three-­cornered contest.

Seats across inner-city Melbourne and neighbouring the Greens’ Queensland electorates of Ryan, Griffith and Brisbane were also in Mr Bandt’s sights, though Peter Dutton’s seat of Dickson – where the Greens received 13 per cent of the primary vote in 2022 – was not a top ­priority.

The Greens polled better in the Labor-held seats of Moreton (20.8 per cent), Lilley (17.09 per cent) and Bonner (16.75 per cent).

Mr Bandt was not focusing on any formal alliance with Labor in the event of a hung parliament or angling to get Greens MPs on the frontbench, but it was something the party would look at and make announcements about closer to the time.

“People often forget Labor’s vote went backwards at the last election and less than a third of this country voted for this government and about a third of the country, a few more than a third of the country, voted for the opposition and about a third of the country voted for someone else,” he said.

“Whatever the configuration of the next parliament, it’ll be an opportunity for people to voice their disappointment in Labor not tackling the bigger issues.”

While Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney has acknowledged the importance of truth-telling after the October 14 referendum and is considering whether to establish regional voices, Mr Bandt said Labor should recommit to truth-telling and treaty and establish a truth and justice commission.

The government has faced criticism it is taking too long to develop its plan B after the Indigenous voice to parliament was rejected.

Asked if Labor should introduce regional voices and if legislation was required, Mr Bandt didn’t mention a voice at all, but said: “A truth-telling process across the country could commence now and should commence now.

“We’ve seen in Victoria that process has been under way and it’s making a big difference and it’s laying the foundation for future change.

“A national process of truth-telling will allow people to share their experiences of what colonisation has meant for them.

“It’s an essential part of helping bring the country together and laying a strong foundation for future reforms to be successful.

“Our priority … is Labor should recommit to that process of truth-telling and treaty.”

Voice, treaty and truth were the three requests from Indigenous leaders in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which the Albanese government has committed to in full.