The head of Queensland’s Indigenous truth-telling and healing commission has reversed a decision to pause the inquiry, citing a lack of communication from the state government.
The commission chair, Joshua Creamer, halted all public hearings last month after the new premier, David Crisafulli, told a press conference he “won’t be allowing those to go ahead” and vowed to repeal the legislation behind it before the end of the year.
Creamer labelled the premier’s move “hugely disrespectful”, but agreed to a pause on work “until further information is available”.
But on Friday he said he had received no information since then, despite multiple requests to the premier and minister Fiona Simpson for a meeting.
“In the absence of any further information, and to ensure the inquiry meets its obligations as an independent inquiry under the Path to Treaty Act, the inquiry today informed the minister of works to be continued to ensure the members will continue to satisfy their obligations under the Act until it has been repealed,” Creamer said on Friday.
The inquiry laid out a new work plan to Simpson on Friday.
It does not include new public hearings – despite plans for inquiry sessions at Minjerribah/Terrangerri (North Stradbroke Island) in December.
But online submissions have been reopened, and the inquiry has contacted a range of organisations, including government agencies and historical societies, “requesting that any of those entities who wish to provide further submissions or material to contribute to the Inquiry’s record take advantage of this final opportunity before the Act is repealed”.
Submissions and materials provided to the inquiry will form part of its records and will be preserved by the state archives.
The inquiry will also once again promote public awareness of the history of Queensland’s colonisation.
Creamer said the inquiry would not restart public hearings, partly because it was unable to provide long-term trauma-aware support for participants.
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As opposition leader, Crisafulli voted to establish the inquiry and create a process for negotiating treaties in 2023. He said he hoped the law would be “a catalyst for materially improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in this state”.
All 34 LNP MPs voted for the bill.
Crisafulli changed his mind in the days after the failed voice referendum, promising instead to improve Indigenous home ownership rates.
The truth-telling and healing inquiry held its historic first hearings in September, including testimony by government department directors general and the police commissioner. It also heard from seven victims of colonialism about issues including wage theft, abuse and the state protection system.
Declaring the inquiry “divisive”, Crisafulli has promised to repeal the state’s Pathway to Treaty Act this year, making it one of the first acts of his government.
Creamer has said the decision to end an independent inquiry by a new government is unprecedented.