Queensland’s Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry to defy Crisafulli government’s stop work notice

The chairman of Queensland’s Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry has decided to resume operations despite the state government’s directive to cease work.

The chair of Queensland's truth-telling and healing inquiry, Joshua Creamer, speaking at a press conference about the Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry, Brisbane City - on Friday 22nd of November 2024 - Photo Steve Pohlner

The chairman of Queensland’s Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry has decided to resume operations despite the state government’s directive to cease work.

Joshua Creamer said he had no choice to push ahead after receiving no communication from the newly-elected government Liberal National government in the three weeks since Premier David Crisafulli ordered the independent Inquiry to end prematurely. He also noted the government, voted in last month, has not yet moved to repeal the Path to Treaty legislation that enshrines the inquiry.

“We’ve all realised over the last 23 days that we’re all governed by the rule of law, and if you want to dismantle a functioning and effective Inquiry, you have to comply with the law,” Mr Creamer said.

“As it stands, the Path of Treaty Act is the law, and under the Path of Treaty Act, myself and other members, we have certain responsibilities, our duties and functions. Given the inability of the government to be able to move swiftly, we’ve decided to recommence the work of the inquiry.”

“We certainly can’t sit around here for months and months and months and waiting for them to do something.”

While the Inquiry still has access to government resources, it will resume with some limitations. No formal truth-telling hearings will take place, but the portal for submissions will be reopened until the end of January, with a report to be provided to the government at the end of that period.

Mr Creamer has described his relationship with the new government as “frosty”. He was due to meet with the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Fiona Simpson on November 7, but the meeting was postponed as she sought further clarification on a number of issues. It is yet to be rescheduled.

The first sitting week for the new term will sit next week. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the government was clear about its intention to repeal the Path to Treaty act prior to the election.

“The Inquiry chair wrote to the minister and the premier, and the minister is in the process of responding to that,” Mr Bleijie said.

“Our position was consistent and clear before the election … we’re not proceeding with that Inquiry.

“We want to do things sensibly and look at ways we can better invest into our Indigenous communities across Queensland.”

The three-year independent inquiry has held five public hearings since it was launched in September. Community consultation was underway in several ­Indigenous communities, including Cherbourg and North Stradbroke Island, when work was ordered to cease. It was designed to record previously unheard accounts of Queensland’s Indigenous history, which would be used to inform policy and education and did not have the power to order reparations.

All submissions and materials provided to the Inquiry will form part of the Inquiry’s records and will be collected and preserved by the Queensland State Archives.