The premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan, has appeared before the Yoorrook Justice Commission—Australia’s first truth-telling inquiry, which has the same powers as a royal commission.
She is the first head of an Australian government to appear before such an inquiry, established to investigate the impact of past and present events on Indigenous communities.
The commission name “Yoorrook” means “truth” in the Wemba-Wemba/Wamba-Wamba language spoken around north-western Victoria.
Commissions in other countries such as Canada and South Africa have uncovered widespread and significant violations of human rights. Yoorrook is the first commission to be established in Australia, and its findings are expected to inform Victoria’s treaty process.
Part of the Treaty Process
Ms. Allan said preparing for her appearance had taken her on a “learning journey.”“It saddens me that I did not have the opportunity to learn that at a much younger age,” she said.
She was unable to discuss her specific evidence, but said she was “deeply humbled” to appear before the commission.
“The truth-telling process is such an important part, indeed, a critical part ... of the treaty process,” she said.
“At times, that truth-telling has been challenging, challenging for governments, challenging for organisations and institutions, but it must be done because we can’t have a treaty without telling the truth about how our state was colonised.”
She said the failed Voice referendum had made her “more determined to work incredibly hard” to “present the facts” about Victoria’s history and the inequalities faced by the First Nations people.
