What is truth telling? | Four Corners

Truth-telling in Australia: A Summary

Key Concepts:

• Truth-telling: A process of acknowledging and understanding Australia's complete history, including the violent invasion and its impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• First Nations People: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the original inhabitants of Australia.
• Reconciliation: The process of building respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians.
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission: A formal body established to investigate past human rights abuses and promote healing and reconciliation.
• Yoorrook Justice Commission: The truth-telling commission in Victoria, Australia.
• Apartheid: A system of racial segregation and discrimination enforced in South Africa from 1948 to 1994.

1. Defining Truth-telling in the Australian Context:

• Truth-telling is defined as telling the truth about Australia's long and complex history, acknowledging 65,000 years of Aboriginal occupation.
• It involves confronting the violent invasion by the British and the subsequent killings of tens of thousands of Aboriginal people by settlers and even police.
• The need for truth-telling arises from the argument that many Australians are unaware of this history, and it has not been properly acknowledged.

2. The Yoorrook Justice Commission in Victoria:

• First Nations people called for a special inquiry to share their stories and truths.
• The Yoorrook Justice Commission in Victoria is gathering stories from hundreds of First Nations and non-Indigenous people.
• The commission aims to reveal the scale of past atrocities and the failure of governments to address this history.
• Example: Non-Indigenous Australians express shock and shame at learning about massacres and the lack of education on this history.

3. The Scope of Truth-telling:

• While the Yoorrook Justice Commission has heard from over 200 Aboriginal people, truth-telling is not solely about recording Aboriginal stories.
• It is also an invitation for non-Indigenous Australians to reflect on and acknowledge their role in history.
• Example: A person discovers that a family member enabled attempted elimination of Aboriginal people through legislation.
• Example: Victoria Police formally and unreservedly apologized for police actions that caused trauma to Aboriginal families.

4. Global Examples: The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission:

• Truth-telling has been used globally, with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa being a notable example.
• This commission examined injustices and heard from people after the end of apartheid.
• Quote: "We are a wounded people because of the conflict of the past no matter on which side we stood we all stand in need of healing" - highlighting the need for healing for all parties involved.

5. Challenges and Current Status:

• Truth-telling involves examining and accurately understanding history.
• However, truth-telling initiatives have faced challenges, as seen in Queensland, where a similar commission was scrapped.
• The Yoorrook Justice Commission in Victoria is currently the only one of its kind in Australia.

6. Conclusion:

• Truth-telling is a crucial process for Australia to confront its past, acknowledge the injustices suffered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and work towards reconciliation. The Yoorrook Justice Commission represents a significant step in this direction, but its success depends on the willingness of all Australians to engage with the truth and learn from history.