By CALLUM GODDE
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is fronting the Yoorrook Justice Commission in an historic first, but what is it and why is it important?
WHAT IS THE YOORROOK JUSTICE COMMISSION?
* Victoria’s Indigenous truth-telling inquiry, the first of its kind in Australia
* Led by five commissioners, of whom four are Aboriginal
* Established with the powers of a royal commission
* Independent of the Victorian government and the elected First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, the body tasked with leading statewide treaty talks
* Yoo-rrook means ‘truth’ in the Wemba Wemba/Wamba Wamba language
WHAT IS IT’S PURPOSE?
* Create an official record of the impact of colonisation on Indigenous people in Victoria
* Develop a shared understanding among all Victorians of the impact of colonisation
* Support the treaty-making process, including through recommendations for reform
HOW DID IT COME ABOUT?
* The Victorian government committed to a truth and justice process in July, 2020
* The commission and its mandate was unveiled in March, 2021
* It launched in March, 2022, following COVID lockdown-related delays
* Public hearings began in April, 2022
WHO HAS APPEARED AT YOORROOK?
* Aboriginal elders such as Uncle Jack Charles, Uncle Johnny Lovett, Aunty Alma Thorpe and Aunty Eva Jo Edwards
* Aboriginal groups, legal minds, a descendent of one of Victoria’s first settlers, historians and government department heads
* Treaty and First Peoples ministers Gabrielle Williams and Natalie Hutchins
* Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes, Police Minister Anthony Carbines, Child Protection Minister Lizzie Blandthorn and Water Minister Harriet Shing
* Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton
* Premier Jacinta Allan
WHAT IS IT’S REPORTING TIMELINE?
* Delivered an interim report in June, 2022
* Delivered a second interim report into child protection and criminal justice systems in August, 2023
* Final report due to be delivered by June, 2025, following a 12-month extension
WHAT ARE SOME OF ITS KEY RECOMMENDATIONS SO FAR?
* Transfer child protection decision-making powers, authority, control and resources to First Peoples
* Give the right of self-determination to First Peoples in the Victorian criminal justice system
* Establish and adequately resource an independent police oversight authority
* Ban routine strip searches in prisons and youth justice centres
* Raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years with no exceptions, and prohibit the detention of children under 16
* Create a presumption in favour of bail for all offences except murder, terrorism and other similar charges
HOW HAS THE GOVERNMENT RESPONDED?
* Accepted four of the second interim report’s 46 recommendations in full and 24 in principle
* Still considering 15, including a standalone Indigenous child protection system
* Rejected three recommendations, including raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14 years without exceptions and outlawing the detention of children under 16 years
WHAT IS IT CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO?
* Ownership and other matters connected to land, sky and waters before turning its attention to health, education and housing
AAP
