Dr WOODRUFF question to MINISTER for ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS, Mrs ARCHER
The Pathway to Truth-Telling and Treaty report was a historic document. When it was tabled in this House, former premier Peter Gutwein undertook to implement all its recommendations in full. Recommendations 1 and 5 were to implement a truth-telling commission and treaty legislation. Today, Victoria has completed both, with a treaty bill now tabled in their parliament.
After four years, all your government has done is propose a pathway to truth-telling. Worse, your government has backed away from delivery treaty. The Tasmanian Aboriginal people lived on and cared for Lutruwita/Tasmania tens of thousands of years before colonisation. They have been promised a treaty twice now. It’s a matter of justice. After the historic bill in Victoria, will you today recommit Tasmania to treaty?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for her question and her generous words. I do understand the significance of truth-telling and treaty to Tasmanian Aboriginal people. Since becoming minister, and also during my time in federal parliament, I’ve had a number of conversations about these issues and it is clear that there are mixed views among Tasmanian Aboriginal people about which should come first, or progressing one without the other.
The interim advice provided by the Aboriginal Advisory Committee on Truth-Telling and Treaty in October 2024 included the appointment of independent commissioners to guide a genuine Aboriginal-led truth-telling and healing process for Tasmanian Aboriginal people. Following this advice and after extensive engagement with Tasmanian Aboriginal people by the former minister, as well as our commitment to Closing the Gap, we did announce that we will focus its efforts on a healing journey for the whole Tasmanian community, walking together on a shared pathway.
Truth-telling is a necessary step which must run its course before any formalised agreements. While I do understand the importance and significance of treaty to Tasmanian Aboriginal people, we believe that an Aboriginal-led truth-telling process must happen for healing to take place in Tasmania. The establishment of the truth-telling and healing commissioners will be uniquely Tasmanian and is a very important historic moment of recognition, respect and self-determination for Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
This is a first for Tasmania, a moment of deep significance for Tasmanian Aboriginal people, and one that reflects our commitment to listen, learn, and act. It is a critical and necessary step towards recognising past injustices, gaining a greater understanding of the contemporary challenges being faced by Tasmanian Aboriginal people and making real progress in healing the wounds of the past.
The truth-telling and healing process will preserve Tasmanian Aboriginal history and storytelling for future generations, provide Aboriginal people – including elders, families, children and young people – with a safe and culturally respectful platform to speak their truth, and allow healing to begin. This process, as you pointed out, was disrupted by the election. We will work with the Tasmanian Aboriginal people on the next steps, including the process to appoint the commissioners, noting that this will be led and driven by Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
We know that this won’t be easy, but we also know that truth-telling is important and it is an historic moment for the Tasmanian community. This initiative will also assist in progressing other closing the gap outcomes and forms part of the government’s broader commitment to closing the gap and to improving the lives of Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
The announcement of funding for truth-telling and healing commissioners was openly welcomed by the Aboriginal Elders Council of Tasmania, the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania, Marrawah Law, the Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Communities Alliance, the Aboriginal Advisory Group for Truth Telling and Treaty and Reconciliation Tasmania. I look forward to supporting and facilitating this.
The SPEAKER – The minister’s time for answering the question has expired.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Dr WOODRUFF – Thank you for explaining the process and where it’s up to. I hear that the government is honouring the process that will unfold. Will you also honour the outcomes of that process, including if that process recognises the necessity of delivering a treaty?
The SPEAKER – Honourable minister.
Mrs ARCHER – We are prioritising truth telling and healing for Tasmanian Aboriginal people to meet the objective of the national agreement on Closing the Gap. To move forward, reconciliation requires honesty and clarity for all stakeholders and we have to have a clear position that prioritises that healing process. I will continue to work closely with Aboriginal people and I won’t pre‑empt the outcomes of that process. As the Premier noted earlier in the year in this place, we do recognise that formalised agreements between the Tasmanian government and the Tasmanian Aboriginal people, for example in regard to health, education or economic participation, may be needed following this process.
