Queensland Truth-telling and Healing inquiry visits Far North to plan for official hearings

Queensland’s Truth-telling and Healing inquiry visited the Far North in preparation of official hearings, seeking input from local communities.

A hearing aiming to “complete Queensland’s history” while making recommendations towards policies affecting First Australians scoped out the Far North last week as it expects to hold official sessions next year.

The Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry was established under the Queensland Path to Treaty Act 2023 and recently marked 100 days into its three-year program, hosting one session so far in Brisbane where it listened to elders “who wanted Queenslanders to hear their stories”.

Inquiry member Ivan Ingram met with Far North councillors, the deputy of the Cairns-based Family Responsibilities Commission, government and non-government organisations including faith-based institutions, in a mapping exercise last week ahead of hosting official hearings likely next year.

The inquiry has features of a Commission of Inquiry but has been customised to facilitate the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, by adopting a culturally appropriate and non-legalistic approach.

Proud Wiradjuri and Filipino man and former federal court registrar Ivan Ingram is one of five members of the Path to Treaty Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry, commissioned by, but independent from the Queensland Government. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Ingram said while most inquiries generally investigated evidence to make policy recommendations, truth-telling and healing also aimed to provide an education component.

“One outcome will be a complete and accurate record of Queensland’s history, there’s an education rationale and objective with that,” Mr Ingram said.

“So the broader understanding of what our history has been. There will also be the observations that we’ll be able to make as to what current systemic barriers may be.

“We’ll be able to make recommendations in relation to possibly legislative reform, policy reform or the delivery of services that currently exist.”

He said while it was too early to speak of what recommendations may result, he expected there would be findings on the topics of land access, access to health, to education and justice.

The first to appear before the inquiry, Aunty Leslie Williams 77, on the first day of sitting for the Truth Telling & Healing Inquiry, at the convention centre in South Brisbane. Pic: Lyndon Mechielsen.

“So what we’ve looked at in the recent hearing in Brisbane, a number of our participants have lived on a mission or a reserve, are able to talk through their observations … so the way that their lives were controlled, the kinds of things that they were permitted to do or not do.”

He said while the individuals who had presented so far did not have a strong focus on recommendations, “historically speaking” he accepted government policies and programs that worked were those co-designed with “buy-in” from communities.

“So there are stories out there about the service delivery and how effective or ineffective they may be. We would be interested in understanding that by hearing from people on the ground, through our inquiry, through government departments, (which) will help us understand what has actually occurred.”

Originally published as Queensland Truth-telling and Healing inquiry visits Far North to plan for official hearings