Seeking leaders for Queensland’s Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry and Treaty Institute

• Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now open for member and chairperson roles of the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry as well as the inaugural Treaty institute.
• Up to five members, including a chairperson, are required to administer the Truth‑telling and Healing Inquiry.
• The inaugural Treaty Institute will comprise of two co-chairs and eight members, all of whom will be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons.
• The Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry will help build community understanding of Queensland’s shared history and support the process of healing for individuals, communities, the state and help Close the Gap.

Queensland is a step further on its path to treaty, with the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry calling for five members, including a chairperson and the Treaty Institute of two co-chairs and eight members.

The Expression of Interest (EOI) process formally opened today 30 November and will close on Thursday 21 December 2023.

A robust recruitment process for the roles was co-designed with the Interim Truth and Treaty Body (ITTB) following extensive consultation across the state with First Nations people and Non-Indigenous Queenslanders.

The chairperson must be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and the majority of Inquiry members will be First Nations people, with at least one Aboriginal person and at least one Torres Strait Islander person.

At least one member must be a lawyer of over five years’ standing and with experience relevant to the functions of the Inquiry. Inquiry membership will also reflect the gender diversity of Queensland.

The Inquiry will include developing a shared truth in relation to the often-confronting nature of this State’s past and the impact since colonisation, including frontier wars, forced removals, establishment of settlements and the stolen generation.

The Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry will build community understanding of our shared history and support the process of healing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Non-Indigenous people, communities, the state and help Close the Gap.

The Path to Treaty Act 2023, passed in Queensland Parliament in May 2023, establishes the legislative framework enabling the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry and the First Nations Treaty Institute. The Inquiry is expected to be established in 2024 for a minimum period of three years.

Path to Treaty is about creating a new future for Queensland, one built together with shared understanding and respect.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Treaty Leeanne Enoch:

“Reframing the relationship between First Nations Queenslanders and the Queensland Government and our ability to collectively Close the Gaps in life outcomes requires a full and truthful understanding of our shared history.

“The landmark Path to Treaty Bill, passed earlier this year, laid out the legislative framework for the establishment of the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry and Treaty Institute.

“The Palaszczuk Government remains committed to ensuring that the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry, supported by the Treaty Institute is empowered to do its important work, which begins today with the call for applications for the five inquiry members and ten members of the Institute.

“I want to thank the Interim Truth and Treaty Body (ITTB) for their significant work with the Queensland Government to progress the implementation of the Path to Treaty legislation.”

Explainer/fast facts and or further information:

• The Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry has been set up under legislation to hear and record the stories of Queenslanders about the ongoing impacts of colonisation. The truth about the past will help Queenslanders understand how modern Queensland came to be.
• The Inquiry is required to have five members who reflect the gender diversity of Queensland and who are majority First Nations, with at least one Aboriginal person and at least one Torres Strait Islander person. At least one member must be a legal practitioner of over five years’ standing and who has experience relevant to the functions of the Inquiry.
• Inquiry members and the chairperson will have experience in leading a team in a challenging environment and a proven track record in the conduct of inquiries, reviews, commissions and/or research in the public arena. They will hold full-time positions for the term of the Inquiry with the remuneration arrangements outlined in the EOI.
• The EOI process is being managed by an external recruitment agency and applications will be assessed by an independent panel.
• Applicants are invited to find out more information and submit their expression of interest for Member and/or Chairperson of the Inquiry and the Institute by 21 December 2023 via:
  • https://www.luminarypartners.com.au/truthtellingandhealinginquiry
  • https://www.luminarypartners.com.au/firstnationstreatyinstitute
• The ITTB was established on 16 August 2022 to lead local truth-telling initiatives and provide independent advice to the Queensland Government on establishment of Path to Treaty structures - www.truthandtreatyqld.org.au
• For more information about the Path to Treaty, visit: www.qld.gov.au/treaty

ENDS

Media contact – Tim Auguston 0417 768 626