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Milestones

Take a look at how far we've come since 2019
A timeline of the path to treaty in Queensland up to the formation of the First Nations Treaty Institute and establishment of the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry

July 2019

The Path to Treaty journey began in 2019, marked by the signing of the Statement of Commitment to reframe the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the Queensland Government.

Since then, there have been three key bodies established to give life to this ambition. Take a look below for more information.

December 2019 – May 2020

The Eminent Panel started treaty conversations with the support of a Treaty Working Group. This included statewide consultations that confirmed that Queenslanders supported exploring treaty and what that might look like.

Informed by statewide consultations, the Eminent Panel prepared a report with recommendations – three major themes emerged that informs the work we are doing today.

  • Inclusion: Treaty is a conversation for all Queenslanders, both First Nations people and non-Indigenous people.
  • Reconciliation: Truth telling and healing are at the heart of our journey towards treaty.
  • Treaty ready: First Nations people and their communities are informed about the Path to Treaty, and have an equal seat at the table to negotiate a treaty or treaties.

For further information read the reports of the Treaty Working Group and the Eminent Panel; and Queensland Government's response.

August 2020 – October 2021

The Treaty Advancement Committee (the TAC) was appointed on 14 February 2021 to provide independent advice and guidance to the Queensland Government on options for implementing the Eminent Panel’s recommendations.

The TAC looked at treaty making practices—both nationally and internationally—to inform the recommendations in their report. They also went back out to community to provide an update on the Path to Treaty.

The TAC report recommendations included:

  • A staged approach to truth telling and healing – firstly via local truth telling with public institutions (libraries, museums, art galleries, archives) and then by a formal state-wide process – the Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry (the Inquiry)
  • Treaty making and First Nations empowerment – facilitated by the First Nations Treaty Institute (the Institute)
  • Use of the returns of the Path to Treaty Fund, announced in the Queensland State Budget 2021-2022, to support the operations of the Institute and First Nations treaty readiness
  • Queensland Government Treaty readiness – led by a Path to Treaty Office, Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships

An independent body to maintain momentum of the Path to Treaty, undertake local truth telling and co-design the Institute and Inquiry.

For further information read the report of the Treaty Advancement Committee and Queensland Government’s response.

August 2022

The Queensland Government accepted all the recommendations of the TAC. One of the recommendations was to appoint an ‘independent body’. The Interim Truth and Treaty Body, recommended by the TAC was announced in August 2022.

An Interim Truth and Treaty Body (Board) was established to steer the pathway forward.

The Board will:

  • Co-design establishing the First Nations Treaty Institute (Institute) and the Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry (Inquiry) with the Queensland Government (take a look at next steps for more information)
  • Deliver local truth-telling activities to acknowledge Queensland’s history and the impacts of colonisation on First Nations people
  • Work with First Nations peoples to support local-level community treaty readiness and explore priorities.

May 2023

On the 10 May 2023, another historic milestone was accomplished in Queensland’s history with the Path to Treaty Act 2023 (Act) being legislated in Queensland Parliament.

The Act details establishment of a Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry (Inquiry) to lead a formal truth telling and healing inquiry process, and the First Nations Treaty Institute (Institute) to inform treaty-making with First Nations parties, and the Institute Council to oversee its operations.

July 2023

The ITTB handed over their recommendations to the Minister for Treaty, the Honourable Leeanne Enoch MP, on the establishment and appointment process for the Institute, Institute Council and Inquiry.

The Minister received the advice and used it to inform the establishment of these key structures. The ITTB continued to work with the department to assist with this process and also released a Community Consultation Feedback Report to summarise the consultation process and share what community members had to say.

The ITTB, as an ‘interim’ body will disband once the Institute Council has been appointed. The work and findings undertaken during their tenure, will assist these key structures to undertake their roles and functions to prepare Queenslanders for treaty making in the future.