Indigenous people demand the truth despite the “silence” of voices

Greens to seek Indigenous truth and justice commission as prominent former MP criticises government ‘silence’ after failed vote

A bill will be introduced this week to establish the commission, which would be empowered to examine historical and ongoing injustices against First Nations and make recommendations to Parliament.

“We have been waiting for the opportunity not only to speak our truths, but to allow Australia to listen deeply to our experiences, past and present, as the world’s oldest living culture,” the Senate senator said on Sunday. Greens Dorinda Cox.

The Albanian government has set aside funds to establish a Makarrata Commission that would oversee the truth-telling process.

But little has been made public about its progress after the defeat of the vote referendum that shook the government and traumatised many indigenous people.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Linda Burney said Saturday that funding for the commission was still in the budget.

“The government has been very clear, and I have been very clear: we will take our time to make sure everything goes well,” she told reporters.

She said the government was spending billions of dollars on housing, education and employment for Indigenous Australians and noted truth was being told at the local, state and community levels.

“In my view, the process of bringing the truth to light in this country is well and truly underway and has been underway for a very long time,” she said.

Pat Anderson, chair of the Uluru Dialogues, said the referendum result should not stop the government from implementing the Uluru Statement from the heart.

“It’s been nine months since the referendum and there needs to be momentum,” she said in a statement reported by ABC.

“Our people are suffering from silence, and leadership is needed.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has defended the government’s efforts to deliver better outcomes for Indigenous people.

“I take Aunt Pat’s contributions very seriously,” he told reporters.

“I don’t feel like we’ve been silent. I feel like we’ve been working on all the ways the government intends to close the gap.”

The Voice would have established a permanent advisory committee made up of Indigenous members to advise the government on matters relating to First Nations and their well-being.

Senator Cox said it was important for Australians to know that through the truth-telling process “we will begin to heal as a nation”.

“The work we are doing now must be based on our self-determination to chart a path forward and achieve better outcomes for First Nations people,” she said.

The private member’s bill could easily be defeated in the House because of the government’s majority, but the subject is politically charged.

Victoria has launched its own commission to reveal the truth as part of global efforts to give voice to indigenous peoples.

South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established in 1995 after the end of apartheid, was credited with combatting the injustices of colonialism and the system of racial segregation and discrimination that followed.