Dr WOODRUFF – Minister, regarding the return of lands, which is a central thing in the Pathway to Truth Telling and Treaty Report, and you mentioned that before. Can I confirm that you wouldn’t be including long‑term leases under your definition of returned land? Because whilst they might be a great initiative to have, like Crown land that is leased, would not be considered as as a genuine return of lands.
Mrs ARCHER – Look, both are important. I agree with you, both are important, but having said that, I think it is also, and I think the Secretary has mentioned that we are looking at both, but land return is land return as well.
Dr WOODRUFF – Great. That’s good to know. I think the other thing that I’ve heard people say to me, Aboriginal people have said to me, is that they feel concerned at the strength of commitment from the Tasmanian Liberals to the process of truth telling and, ultimately, treaty and land returns because of what’s happening in Liberal parties in other parts of the country and Victoria. The Victorian Liberals sadly have announced that they would repeal the Victorian treaty legislation which has just passed, which is really shameful given the years of work that it took to get there. Can you commit to the fact that the Liberals in Tasmania are actually committed collectively to progressing truth telling with the process to treaty, if that’s what comes out of it, with land returns?
Mrs ARCHER – I can certainly say that I am committed and the government is committed to progressing these things that I’ve already spoken about today. I have a strong commitment to these processes, those priorities that are priorities for Tasmanian Aboriginal people, noting that they are not without complexity, as we have already heard and that is why I think it is really important that we do spend that time and do that important work of listening to the community. It’s why I believe that truth telling is an important part of that process and it’s why in relation to, whether that’s land return or as I’ve just said, in relation to the Aboriginal Heritage Act, it’s really important that we take the time to get it right. And that’s not to to diminish any commitment to it. It should strengthen that commitment to it to ensure that we get that right and that we don’t see what we have seen in other states, for example Western Australia with the repeal of heritage legislation, et cetera.
I restate my very strong commitment to that deep listening to the Tasmanian Aboriginal community, to working through the issues and to prioritising those things that we know are a priority to Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
Dr WOODRUFF – At the truth telling commissions, Ms Dow asked a question about that. When can we expect to have actual information provided on what what their roles will be, what the timeline for the Commissioners and the process for their appointment?
Ms GRAY – Through you, Minister, we have committed to this process being Aboriginal led, so there is a little bit of work to do with Tasmanian Aboriginal people and organisations so that we can codesign and move at the speed of trust, if you like, and ensure that the process for proceeding with the commissioners is one that all Tasmanian Aboriginal people want to see, including the Coalition of Peaks partner. We want to codesign that approach.
Dr WOODRUFF – What’s your timeline for that process?
Mrs ARCHER – We would hope to progress that as soon as possible. But, I think what Mel is saying is that we will do that in consultation. We will codesign that and make sure that it’s Aboriginal led. We would hope that that would be in place next year, but we will work with Tasmanian Aboriginal people on the timelines for that.
