Victoria announces an Indigenous 'Truth Commission'

The Victorian Government has today launched the 'Yoorrook Justice Commission' (Truth and Justice Commission) which will investigate both "historical and ongoing injustices committed against Aboriginal Victorians, across all areas of social, political, cultural and economic life".

The Commission will be run independently from Government, and afforded the full powers of a Royal Commission. Victoria will be the first jurisdiction to create this formal truth-telling forum, which will run in partnership with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. An interim report is expected later this year.

"It’s time for this country to come on a journey of truth telling, to learn the truth and face the truth...this is one way we can bring people together and heal not only Victoria but the nation." - Victorian Greens Senator and Gunnai Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung woman Lidia Thorpe