Victoria to hold a special sitting of Parliament to offer another apology to Indigenous Australians
The Victorian Government will recall parliament next month for a special sitting to deliver its third formal apology to Indigenous Victorians. Premier Jacinta Allan announced late Wednesday that parliament will hold a special sitting on December 9 to issue an apology for 'the harm caused by the actions and inactions of the state and the colony that preceded it'. 'Premier Allan will make a formal apology in Parliament House on [December 9] to First Nations Victorians, acknowledging practices that led to systemic injustices, dispossession, displacement and violence,' a statement said.The apology will be the third apology to Indigenous Victorians after former Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett apologised in 1997 for previous policies that led to the removal of Aboriginal children from their families.And just last year, the Allan Government said sorry for the historical abuse and neglect experienced by Aboriginal children.Victoria Police has also made two formal apologies for 'trauma experienced by Aboriginal families' and to the 'survivors of the Stolen Generations'. The Allan government said the next apology and the recently passed Treaty were pathways to 'acknowledging the past and moving on to make real, practical changes to achieve better outcomes for First Peoples in Victoria and close the gap'.'We are addressing the systemic injustices of the past to build a better future for all Victorians, grounded in mutual respect and understanding,' Allan said in a statement. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan will make another formal apology to Australian Aboriginals The Allan government said the next apology and the recently passed Treaty were pathways to 'acknowledging the past' wrongs Supporters celebrate after the Treaty Bill passed parliament last monthThe state opposition came out swinging against the planned apology shortly after the special sitting was announced.Shadow attorney-general James Newbury slammed the proposed apology, telling media 'Labor has the wrong priorities'.'We are in a crime crisis, why the heck isn't Jacinta Allan recalling Parliament to toughen laws or make our community safer,' Mr Newbury said.'Instead of fixing crime or debt, the premier wants the Parliament to sit again to deliver what will be its fourth apology to Indigenous Australians.'The apology comes as a promised part of Victoria's controversial Statewide Treaty Bill.Victoria became the first Australian state to establish a statewide treaty for Indigenous Australians after the bill was passed in late-October.It creates a powerful body, Gellung Warl, with oversight over government departments and agencies and embeds Indigenous truth-telling into schools. Shadow attorney-general James Newbury slammed the proposed apology, telling media 'Labor has the wrong priorities' Under the reforms, Gellung Warl is to 'participate in the ceremonial life of the state', which could result in more Welcome to Country ceremoniesAccording to the treaty, this truth-telling will teach students that the 'colony of Victoria was established without the consent, negotiation or recognition of the traditional owners of these lands and waters'.Access to skiing and snowboarding in alpine areas, as well as hunting and fishing, could also be restricted at the request of Aboriginal groups.Under the reforms, Gellung Warl is to 'participate in the ceremonial life of the state', which could result in more Welcome to Country ceremonies.Gellung Warl will also serve as a 'naming authority' for geographic locations, including mountains, state parks and rivers, to 'increase opportunities for the use of traditional or language place names'.
