The union representing teachers and support staff in Queensland and Northern Territory non-government schools has condemned the Queensland government's decision to halt the Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry and end the state's Path to Treaty process.
Independent Education Union – Queensland and Northern Territory (IEU-QNT) Branch Secretary Terry Burke said the decision was a step backwards from achieving meaningful reconciliation with First Nations Peoples.
"It is an utterly shameful decision to halt the inquiry and devastating for First Nations communities to have this long-awaited opportunity for truth, justice and healing revoked," Mr Burke said.
"First Nations Peoples are yet again having their voices silenced and histories denied.
"If you take issue with the truth being told, you have a serious problem," he said.
The decision is at odds with the recommendations in a report published last week by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), which called on governments to recognise the devastating impacts of systemic racism on First Nations Peoples and take urgent access to address it.
The AHRC report noted truth-telling, education about historical impacts and a commitment to self-determination are critical to dismantling racism against First Nations Australians.
Mr Burke said the forced cancellation of the Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry and Path to Treaty process would prevent better outcomes of First Nations Peoples and denied an accurate picture of the state's history.
"It was an opportunity for Queenslanders to hear the lived experiences of Elders who were subject to historic colonial policies and practices and from First Nations communities who directly experience the ongoing impacts of colonisation," he said.
"We urge the new Queensland Premier to reconsider the decision and be on the right side of history by allowing the Inquiry to continue and reinstating the Path to Treaty process," Mr Burke said.
