Thursday, 19 June 2025

Yoorrook Justice Commission

Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (10:13): Last week I had the absolute privilege to join Travis Lovett, proud Kerrupmara/Gunditjmara man and Yoorrook Justice Commission deputy chair and commissioner, for a part of his 500-kilometre journey from Portland to Parliament in support of truth-telling and the important work of the Yoorrook Justice Commission. He was joined along the way by community, where truths were shared by First Nations people as well as non-First Nations people. We listened to each other and to the country we walked upon. During the walk I heard from a descendant of Alfred Deakin who has uncovered a truth that all of us in this place need to hear. Deakin was a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly before he became Prime Minister, and during a late-night session at the end of a year he was instrumental in rushing through laws that set the path to enable the stolen generation. The legislation passed with little scrutiny or fanfare, yet would have shattering consequences for First Peoples culture, kinship, identity and human rights which continue today. We continue to see laws rushed through this Parliament that have deeply harmful impacts on First People: there have been several in my short time in this place. In opening up the truth the Yoorrook Justice Commission has placed upon us in here a responsibility to acknowledge that and honour it, not just in words but in the actions we take when we vote in here.