Deadline looming to make your submission on proposed Truth and Justice Commission
The Bill is before a Senate Inquiry and you can make your voice heard until 20 September
August 28, 2024
Please note the deadline has been extended and submissions now close 20 September.
The deadline is looming for submissions to a current parliamentary inquiry into a Bill proposing a new federal truth and justice commission.
The Truth and Justice Commission Bill 2024 aims to set up a body that will make recommendations to Parliament and inquire into historic and ongoing injustices against First Peoples in Australia and their impact.
The Bill was introduced by Greens Senator Dorinda Cox in July this year, and was referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs for inquiry.
Since the defeated referendum on a Voice to Parliament last October, Senator Cox said a truth and justice commission had now become critical for national healing.
“These important processes of the truth and justice commission will allow us to formally record, teach and reinforce that we have strong and proud Indigenous peoples who were the first chapter of our nation’s story,” she said.
The Uniting Church Assembly, with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, has made its own submission in support of a Commission. This position is consistent with its commitment to the full implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. You can read the submission below.
Truth was one of the three key pillars of reform called for in the Statement, urging processes and structures to address the full extent of injustices experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and enable a shared understanding of Australian history and its ongoing impact.
The deadline has been extended and submissions now close 20 September. If you'd like to make a submission but you're not sure where to start, ANTAR has a great guide and a template you can use.
If you would like to speak to someone at the Assembly about your submission, please contact comms@nat.uca.org.au
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