In a significant political development, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has effectively ruled out establishing a formal treaty and Indigenous truth-telling commission, despite previous commitments to the Uluru Statement from the Heart. This decision has sparked a mix of reactions from government officials, Indigenous leaders, and opposition figures. Prime Minister Rules Out Formal Treaty and Indigenous Truth-Telling Commission
The Uluru Statement from the Heart, endorsed by Labor on the day it won government, called for a Makarrata Commission—an Indigenous truth-telling body—and a formal treaty, alongside establishing an Indigenous voice to federal parliament. However, two years into their term, the government has distanced itself from these suggestions, though it maintains its dedication to the statement’s ideals.
Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy reiterated the government’s commitment to improving outcomes for First Nations people. “We are not moving away from our commitment to the Uluru Statement from the Heart in terms of our love and our support for all of those who gathered (at Uluru) in 2017,” she stated in an interview with ABC TV.
Senator McCarthy emphasized that the Indigenous community still needed time to recover from the loss of the voice referendum in 2023. The voice to parliament was a pivotal element of the Uluru Statement, which also included the Makarrata Commission and treaty.
“Ten months on from the referendum defeat, Senator McCarthy highlighted the necessity of bipartisan support to advance outcomes for Indigenous people. ‘This was clearly a soul-shattering event … people are still recovering from that,’ she said. ‘It was deeply traumatising for First Nations people who largely voted ‘yes,’ especially in the northern parts of the country.'”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton expressed concerns about pursuing a Makarrata commission, cautioning it could replicate the divisiveness of the voice referendum. “The mistake that the prime minister made at the time of the voice, in trying to foist that onto the Australian people, I think he’d be repeating that mistake,” he remarked.
Dutton emphasized the need for practical outcomes for Indigenous Australians, urging the prime minister to focus on tangible improvements rather than symbolic measures.
At the Garma Festival, Australia’s largest Indigenous gathering, Prime Minister Albanese acknowledged the need for “new ambition, energy and determination” to collaborate with the Indigenous community. He stressed the importance of moving forward rather than dwelling on the failed referendum.
Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman, speaking at the festival, warned that an apology for Northern Territory police injustices would only hold significance if accompanied by a cultural shift within the force. “Change must now be embedded throughout the entire police force and the structures set up within it … I hope this cultural shift is being driven by the very top of the police force,” he asserted.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss echoed these sentiments, highlighting the necessity of addressing ongoing injustices within the police force.
As the debate over the government’s approach to the Uluru Statement from the Heart continues, the focus remains on finding effective ways to enhance the lives of First Nations people, balancing symbolic gestures with practical actions.
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