Queensland’s LNP vows to axe new Indigenous treaty institute if elected

Queensland’s Liberal National Party leader David Crisafulli will immediately axe a newly created Indigenous institute tasked with overseeing treaty negotiations if he wins October’s state election.

Queensland Opposition Opposition David Crisafulli. Picture: Richard Walker

Queensland’s Liberal National Party leader David Crisafulli will axe immediately a newly created Indigenous institute tasked with overseeing treaty negotiations if he wins the state election in October, in a move Aboriginal leaders have warned would require landmark laws to be repealed.

New Labor Premier Steven Miles is pushing ahead with Indigenous treaties “as legislated”, with a 10-member institute – due to be appointed in weeks – that would support First Nations people to prepare for and enter negotiations with government.

A separate three-year truth-telling inquiry to investigate the impacts of colonisation also is being assembled, with plans to start work before mid-year.

But Mr Crisafulli on Tuesday committed to cutting the institute and its council if the LNP wins government later this year.

“That process will end,” he said. “We won’t be wasting any time talking about those issues, in terms of the treaty and truth-telling process, because we’ve said that we’re not embarking on that.

“If the government wants the election to be a referendum on whether or not they want to embark on a treaty and a truth-telling process, well, our counter­point to that will be on accountability when it comes to housing, education, law and order, and lifting those communities up and giving them hope.”

Mick Gooda, one of the architects of Queensland’s treaty laws, said Mr Crisafulli would have to overhaul legislation if he wanted to abolish treaty and truth telling. “When we did our initial consultation (on treaty laws) it was not unusual for us to find Aboriginal people who were cynical and ­fatigued from consultation where nothing happens,” he said.

“That’s why we asked for legislation, which was passed with 88 out of 92 members supporting it, because we wanted certainty. Even though legislation can be changed, it has to be done so publicly.”

Queensland passed laws last May with support from the LNP, Labor and the Greens, allowing the government to negotiate treaty deals with up to 150 First Nations groups. Traditional owners would lead negotiations on what they wanted in treaties but might seek reparations for Stolen Generations, joint management of nat­ional parks, renaming places, changes to school curriculums and community-controlled health services.

Mr Crisafulli retreated from his commitment to treaty in the face of growing pressure in the LNP and in the days after the voice referendum. He had said previously he would “absolutely not” roll back Indigenous treaty legislation if he became premier.

Queensland delivered the strongest rejection of the voice, with 68.9 per cent voting No in the referendum, 4 per cent higher than the next state against constitutional change, South Australia.

After the LNP withdrew support, premier Annastacia Palaszczuk would commit only to going ahead with truth-telling hearings, insisting treaties were not viable without bipartisan support. Before quitting politics last month, she gave her commitment to Indigenous leaders, including Mr Gooda, that her government would forge ahead on treaty.