Path to Treaty Bill 2023 (Qld)

The State’s conduct must fully reflect the treaty and truth as a process ‘in partnership and good faith’, cognisant of the history of Queensland’s colonisation and the litany of failed reconciliation plans and independent inquiries that the State of Queensland and the Commonwealth has served up for First Nations people. [...] 3 Part 4: Administering Principles of the Path to Treaty Bill Clause 6 of the Path to Treaty Bill sets out the principles for the administration of the Act, that is, both the treaty process and the Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry. [...] The State’s conduct must fully reflect the treaty and truth as a process ‘in partnership and good faith’, cognisant of the history of Queensland’s colonisation and the litany of failed reconciliation plans and independent inquiries that the State of Queensland and the Commonwealth has served up for First Nations people. [...] 5 guaranteed funding independent of the political cycle and day-to-day control of the Government would also ensure the independence of the Treaty Institute that the Bill establishes.19 While we note that as part of arrangements for the Queensland Budget, the Queensland Government announced $300 million for the Path to Treaty Fund, such a political commitment is insufficient to meet the needs of in. [...] To guarantee the independence and work of the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry, and so that its work can be adequately performed to enliven the self-determination of First Nations people, the Bill ought to specify the funding arrangements for the Inquiry from general revenue, to be managed by the Inquiry.