Friday, July 4, 2025
This article requires pre-publication review by an uninvolved reviewer (one not substantially involved in writing the article).
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| This article requires pre-publication review by an uninvolved reviewer (one not substantially involved in writing the article).
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The Yoorrook Justice Commission, Australia’s main truth commission, released a final report on Tuesday, July 1, finding that the Aboriginal peoples of Victoria were systematically subjected to genocide by British colonists during the 19th century.[SOURCE, SOURCE]
According to the National Indigenous Times (NIT), the inquiry, named Truth Be Told, was the product of over two months of public hearings, counting with the participation of about 1,500 First Peoples and the input of about 1,300 written submissions and thousands of state documents.[Source] It formally closed on June 30.[Source]
The commission found that the Aboriginal Victorian population dropped from 60,000 in 1834, the year that marked the beginning of permanent settlement in the state, to only 15,000 in 1851, through mass killings, language extinction, diseases, sexual violence, environmental damage, and family separation.[Source] More specifically, the Gunditjmara and Kulin populations dwindled even further, dropping from 15,000 to 2,000 during the same period.[Source]
The report outlined 100 suggested remedies on the areas of education, health care, land rights and parliamentary representation, to be implemented within a treaty framework that involves the state government. Some of the main proposals are:
- Integrating the perspectives of First Peoples to the state curriculum, along with introducing anti-racism training to educators;[Source]
- Relocating funds from the Victorian Police to mental health care efforts;[Unsourced]
- Apologizing to the Aboriginal veterans of both World Wars who were denied their rights to land parcels under the Soldier Settlement Scheme;[Unsourced]
- Restructuring the First Peoples’ Assembly as a permanent representative body with decision-making powers;[Unsourced]
- Renaming public spaces, parks, reserves and roads after Indigenous names.[Unsourced]
All the five Yoorrook commissioners unanimously agreed on the recommendations, though three of them — Sue-Anne Hunter, Anthony North and Maggie Walter[Source] – reportedly objected to some findings in the final report. The commissioners have not replied to an ABC News request for comment on Tuesday.[Source]
Politicians and Aboriginal leaders reacted favourably to Yoorrook’s inquiry. Gundijtmara activist and VACCHO CEO Jill Gallagher said that current generations ought to accept the reality of the report’s findings, even though she does not blame anyone living today for the past atrocities.[Source] Yorta Yorta man Ian Hamm, who serves as CEO of the First Nations Foundation, said the report’s release was like “their story being told” but was also hopeful that it would bring about a better future for Aboriginal Victorians. Lidia Thorpe, an independent Senator for Victoria, stated the Yoorrook’s report is an “opportunity for justice, accountability, healing and a chance to build something better for everyone”.[Source]
Leader of the Victorian Greens Ellen Sandell, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service CEO Nerita Waight[Source], Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine [Source] and Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations executive officer Kaley Nicholson likewise welcomed its findings, with many of them urging the Victorian government to fully implement the recommendations, as reported by ABC and NIT.[Source]
 | When you listen to people, you get better outcomes, and that’s what treaty is all about. I reckon we’re up for that as a state. |  |
Reacting to the report, Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan welcomed the report and said on Tuesday her government was carefully taking its recommendations into consideration: “When you listen to people, you get better outcomes, and that’s what treaty is all about. I reckon we’re up for that as a state.” Meanwhile, the Opposition leader Brad Battin stated his shadow government would oppose the treaty and making the First Peoples’ Assembly permanent.[Source]
The Yoorrook Justice Commission was established in 2021 to investigate alleged injustices against Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders. In 2023, it had released another report with a set of 46 recommendations for reforming Victoria’s child protection, bail and criminal justice systems,[Source] of which the state government expressed full support for only six.
- Dechlan Brennan. ‘Clear and concise pathway to ensure safety’: VALS calls on Government to act on Yoorrook’s recommendations — National Indigenous Times, July 3, 2025
- Lana Lam. Inquiry finds British committed genocide on Indigenous Australians — BBC News Online, July 2, 2025
- Tahnee Jash, Kirstie Wellauer. Victoria’s Yoorrook Justice Commission a ‘blueprint’ for the rest of Australia, First Nations leaders say — ABC News (Australia), July 2, 2025
- Kate Ashton, Nate Woodall. The Yoorrook Justice Commission has found genocide occurred in Victoria. Here’s what it says needs to happen next — ABC News (Australia), July 1, 2025
- Kate Ashton. Victorian Aboriginal truth-telling inquiry calls for major overhaul of justice systems — ABC News (Australia), September 4, 2023
