ANNOUNCEMENT: Greens call for Truth, Treaty as well as Voice funding in Budget
Djab Wurrung, Gunnai and Gunditjmara Senator for Victoria and Greens First Nations spokesperson Lidia Thorpe and Greens Leader Adam Bandt have today called on the Treasurer Jim Chalmers to ensure there is funding to progress Treaty-making and Truth telling, as well as Voice, in the upcoming Budget.
The Greens call is based on their 2022 election initiative and also echoes the steps taken by state Labor Governments in recent years to put government funding in place to progress Truth Telling and Treaty work.
At the last election, the Greens pledged that if in balance of power, the Greens would push for:
- At least $8m per year to establish a Treaty Commission that can begin a national consultation process to promote discussion, raise awareness, and promote engagement on the need for Treaty or Treaties
- At least $32m per year for a national Truth and Justice Commission, an independent body with the powers of a Royal Commission. The Commission would investigate and reveal historic and ongoing human rights abuses, wrongdoing, and provide recommendations on how to heal from them
The Greens also want to see this first Albanese budget deliver further progress on the implementation of the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody report and the Bringing Them Home report on the Stolen Generations.
As stated by Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe
“First Nations people have been fighting for Treaties for decades. It’s what our Elders have marched for, it’s been on banners at protests. It’s what we were promised by Bob Hawke’s Labor government in the 80s and it’s still unfinished business for me today.”
“It is time to get on with the work of Truth and Treaty, as well as Voice. To show that it’s genuinely committed to progressing more than just Voice, the government needs to put it’s money where its mouth is in this Budget,” Senator Thorpe said.
“The Treasurer can demonstrate Labor’s commitment to the full Uluru program by including funding to initiate national Truth and Treaty processes, as well as Voice, in this Budget.”
“For the Greens, implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart means making progress on Truth and Treaty alongside a referendum for the Voice. It’s not enough to say it is important, it means investing in the processes and resourcing institutions that can do the work in this Budget and future Budgets, just as the Victorian parliament has done.”
As stated by Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP
“Truth and Treaty can get underway immediately and the Federal Government needs to start now, like State Governments have.
“This Parliament gives us the best opportunity in a generation to advance First Nations’ justice.
“With the Liberals out of government and Greens in balance of power, we can see real action on all elements of the Statement from the Heart.”
Why are the Greens calling for Treaty and Truth Telling Funding in this first Albanese budget?
Treaty was first committed to by the Labor Government under Bob Hawke in 1988, who said “we agreed that these processes should start before the end of this year and that we would expect and hope and work for the conclusion of such a treaty before the end of the life of this Parliament”1. Yet Treaty/Treaties remains unfinished business and it is important to establish clear next steps this term of Government, and Truth Telling is an important part of building towards Treaty or Treaties. This could and should happen alongside a Voice to Parliament – all three can be done at the same time. Showing a concrete commitment to all three parts of the Uluru Statement is important to ensuring progress in all three areas, especially when public attention is focused on Voice in the lead up to a Referendum.
Treaty and Treaty Funding in other states
- In August this year, the Victorian Parliament passed a new law establishing a Treaty Authority, with a $65.5 million budget over four years, with additional funding available between now and 2026. It will then receive $20.3 million for each financial year beyond 2026 until its Treaty work is complete2. Victoria has also established a Yoorrook Justice Commission, which is engaged in a Truth Telling process and has the powers of a Royal Commission.
- In May 2021, Qld committed $300m for a Path to Treaty fund3 which includes $10m per year for a Treaty advancement process.
The role of a national Treaty Commission
- Building on the successful Reconciliation Council model, the Greens are calling for funding to establish a body that can first establish and guide the work of the Truth and Justice Commission, and then engage and involve the community in developing the Treaty or Treaties via a national consultation and engagement process.
- At the heart of the Reconciliation Council model was education, grassroot participation.
- Funding a national body founded on the same principles is one way the Government can ensure that all voices are heard on our journey towards Treaty or Treaties.
The role of a national Truth & Justice Commission
- This country we call Australia is founded on violence and dispossession. Until we tell the truth about our past and strike a Treaty with First Nations owners that recognises their sovereignty, there will be a painful hole in the centre of our democracy.
- A national Truth and Justice Commission has played a vital part in treaty making and healing processes in Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.
- A national commission would work alongside and in support of local truth telling processes – and can help initiate processes in regions and states where none currently exist.
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1 Prime Minister Hawke Speech – 12 June 1988
3https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/92398
