Truth-telling

Telling the story of our state

At the heart of a truth-telling process is the promotion of healing through understanding our collective past, including how past laws, policies and practices that have, and continue to impact First Nations Peoples.

Through the Path to Treaty Act 2023 and the preparation undertaken by the Interim Truth and Treaty Body, truth-telling in Queensland is taking place through:

Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry

The Inquiry will provide opportunity for individuals, both First Nations and non-Indigenous people, to share their truth, and to officially document their stories, and uncover the untold and unrecognised history of Queensland.

This will be done through:

• A formal inquiry-based model, driven by a non-adversarial approach
• A dedication to documenting the historical and ongoing impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Designed to promote community awareness and understanding for all Queenslanders about our collective past 
• Being led by five Inquiry members, appointed through an Expression of Interest process and appointed by the Governor-in-Council

“A lot of Queenslanders don’t know the true history; it hasn’t been factual and we need to be involved in telling the truth to help dispel the myths and tell the story of survival and resistance” – Truth-telling survey respondent

Local truth-telling

Local truth-telling provides an opportunity for communities across Queensland to learn about their shared history, significant historical events and leaders who have shaped and informed their community identity and relationships today.

As part of its role to prepare Queensland for truth-telling, the Interim Truth and Treaty Body has led the development of:

• A truth-telling strategy: to coordinate connection between community members, memory institutions, organisations and government to facilitate locally-led truth-telling
• A Community Guide: to provide guidance to Queensland communities on how to design, develop and deliver trauma-informed, culturally safe, local truth-telling activities, in accordance with local aspirations