The co-chair of Queensland’s interim truth and treaty body, Aaron Fa’Aoso, says the state government has given assurances that its treaty process will proceed, after the opposition Liberal National party withdrew its support.
Fa’Aoso, a descendant of the Saibai region in the Torres Strait, said board members of the truth and treaty body met government representatives on Friday.
“They’ve given us an assurance that everything that’s been stated in the (enabling) act will go forward. That gives us confidence,” he said.
The state’s “path to treaty” process has been under way for several years and was formalised in May by the passage of legislation through parliament. The process had bipartisan support.
This week, after the failed voice referendum, the Liberal National party announced it had withdrawn its backing and would repeal the legislation if elected next year.
The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, then appeared to backtrack, saying treaty would require bipartisan support.
Fa’Aoso said the LNP’s decision to withdraw support was disappointing, given the treaty process had been under way since 2019 and had been designed by the government and First Nations people.
“For now it’s about pushing ahead as things stand,” he said.
“The truth telling process is about informing … people of the impacts of colonisation that have been sustained by First Nations communities and peoples across Queensland.
“That piece of work is critical to informing the wider public … why it is essential … this treaty goes ahead.
“A treaty can’t be formed without both sides agreeing to it.
“So there will be a need for bipartisan support moving forward to treaty making.”
Asked about the voice referendum result and speculation the treaty process might need to be altered in order to achieve broad support, Fa’Aoso said the voice and treaty were “two different mechanisms”.
“It’s not apples and apples. They’re two different processes and one can’t be compared to the other.
“[Treaty] has been a carefully consultative and transparent process … since 2019.
“It’s totally different to what the voice was offering and at the end of the day, we feel that this is a solution and a way forward, reframing the relationship.”
Fa’Aoso said the government had confirmed it would release expressions of interest soon, as planned, for two key bodies – a treaty council, and a board of inquiry to conduct a truth telling and healing process.
