The government defends the "silence" since the vote no against a backdrop of new pressures in favor of a treaty and the truth

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

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

The Albanian government has earmarked funds to establish a Makarrata Commission that will oversee the truth-seeking process.

But little has been publicly announced about its progress after the

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, that we will take our time to make sure we get this right,” 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 opinion, the process of getting the truth out in this country is definitely underway and it has been underway for a very long time,” she said.

Uluru Dialogues Chair Pat Anderson said should not stop the government from adopting the heartfelt Uluru Statement.

“It’s nine months since the referendum and we need to build momentum,” she said in a statement reported by the ABC.

“Our people suffer from silence and we must show leadership.”

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.

“For me, the focus has been on jobs and economic opportunity. We have received a report from the Productivity Commission which we are responding to. So our efforts are focused on closing the gap and getting meaningful results. We are aware, of course, of the disappointment we feel about the result of last year’s referendum.”

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.

A person wearing a black cap stands next to a

The defeat of the referendum on freedom of speech shook the government and traumatized many indigenous people. Source: PAA / Richard Wainwright

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

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

The private member’s bill can easily be defeated in the House due to the government’s majority, but the topic is politically charged.

Victoria has launched its own truth-seeking commission as part of global initiatives to give voice to indigenous peoples.

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