https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/joint-statement-victorias-truth-and-justi...
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Today has been owed for 233 years.
233 years of violence, dispossession and deprivation. 233 years of deliberate silence.
Today we commit to telling the truth.
We do so for the kids who never came home – and those who are still finding their way back.
For those who were told they were not allowed to speak their own language, practice their own culture, know their own identity.
For the families who lost loved ones in the massacres.
For those who were made to feel like they didn’t belong to their own country. And for those who still feel this way.
Today we commit to telling their truth.
We do so in partnership – a shared commitment between the Victorian Government and the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, the state’s first and only democratically-elected body for Aboriginal people.
Named after the Wemba Wemba/Wamba Wamba word for ‘truth’, the Yoo-rrook Justice Commission will formally begin its work in the coming months.
Held independently from Government, and afforded the full power of a Royal Commission, it will mark the beginning of a conversation long overdue, and a commitment to change.
It will compel us to confront what’s come before. To acknowledge that the pain in our past lives on in our present.
And to recognise that without truth, without justice, there can be no Treaty.
Because, 233 years on, Aboriginal Victorians continue to experience outcomes far worse than non-Aboriginal Victorians.
It’s why the Yoo-rrook Justice Commission will investigate both historical and ongoing injustices committed against Aboriginal Victorians, across all areas of social, political, cultural and economic life
With the establishment of the Commission, Victoria will be the first and only jurisdiction in our nation to institute a formal truth-telling forum.
We make this point, not out of pride, but with purpose:
As a state, as a nation, we must do better.
That means not only hearing Aboriginal voices – but actually listening to them. And taking meaningful action in order to achieve real and lasting change.
Victoria’s truth-telling Commission will be led by experts and held in partnership with community.
But its work will be for all of us.
Because only by reconciling with our past can we reach for a fairer, more just future – for all Victorians.
Read Articles:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/mar/09/victoria-launches...
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/please-hear-our-voices-truth...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-09/victoria-truth-and-justice-royal-...
A public expression of interest process is now open to recommend five extraordinary candidates for appointment as Yoo-rrook Justice Commissioners.
As a group, the five Yoo-rrook Justice Commissioners should have knowledge and understanding of systemic disadvantage and its causes; expertise in Indigenous rights, community engagement, decolonisation, transitional justice, government system reform and/or historical inquiries.
All candidates must demonstrate impartiality, moral character and cultural integrity, and be empathetic and trauma-informed.
A majority of Commissioners must be Aboriginal and there should also be a gender balance across the five Commissioners.
Once established, the Yoo-rrook Justice Commissioners will likely be required to perform the following duties:
- ensure all aspects of the Yoo-rrook Justice Commission’s work is conducted in a culturally sensitive and trauma-informed way and is guided by priorities identified by Victorian Aboriginal communities;
- hear testimonies and other evidence about First Peoples’ experiences since colonisation, including First Peoples’ ongoing strength and resilience;
- inquire into and document laws, policies and practices that impacted on First Peoples’ since colonisation and their ongoing effects;
- engage with the Victorian public to educate and inspire them about the truth-telling process;
- hold events and commemorations organised in consultation with First Peoples;
- prepare a report of their findings that will be an official record of the impact of colonisation on First Peoples in Victoria; and
- make recommendations about what can be done to address past and continuing systemic injustices, prevent their recurrence,
- and improve relationships between First Peoples and the State of Victoria and through building a shared history for all Victorians.
A four-person Independent Assessment Panel will assess expressions of interest and make recommendations to the Premier for his consideration.
The Independent Assessment Panel comprises panellists nominated by the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, the Victorian Government and the International Center for Transitional Justice. Pipeline Talent is supporting the Independent Assessment Panel.
The deadline for applications is 12.00 midday on Tuesday 6 April 2021.
To access the expression of interest and position description, or frequently asked questions about the process, please visit pipelinetalent.com.au/yoo-rrook
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