WHAT IS THE YOORROOK JUSTICE COMMISSION?
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* Victoria's Indigenous truth-telling inquiry, the first of its kind in Australia
* Led by five commissioners, of whom four are Aboriginal
* Established with the powers of a royal commission
* Independent of the Victorian government and the elected First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, the body tasked with leading statewide treaty talks
* Yoo-rrook means 'truth' in the Wemba Wemba/Wamba Wamba language
WHAT IS IT'S PURPOSE?
* Create an official record of the impact of colonisation on Indigenous people in Victoria
* Develop a shared understanding among all Victorians of the impact of colonisation
* Support the treaty-making process, including through recommendations for reform
HOW DID IT COME ABOUT?
* The Victorian government committed to a truth and justice process in July, 2020
* The commission and its mandate was unveiled in March, 2021
* It launched in March, 2022, following COVID lockdown-related delays
* Public hearings began in April, 2022
WHO HAS APPEARED AT YOORROOK?
* Aboriginal elders such as Uncle Jack Charles, Uncle Johnny Lovett, Aunty Alma Thorpe and Aunty Eva Jo Edwards
* Aboriginal groups, legal minds, a descendent of one of Victoria's first settlers, historians and government department heads
* Treaty and First Peoples ministers Gabrielle Williams and Natalie Hutchins
* Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes, Police Minister Anthony Carbines, Child Protection Minister Lizzie Blandthorn and Water Minister Harriet Shing
* Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton
* Premier Jacinta Allan
WHAT IS IT'S REPORTING TIMELINE?
* Delivered an interim report in June, 2022
* Delivered a second interim report into child protection and criminal justice systems in August, 2023
* Final report due to be delivered by June, 2025, following a 12-month extension
WHAT ARE SOME OF ITS KEY RECOMMENDATIONS SO FAR?
* Transfer child protection decision-making powers, authority, control and resources to First Peoples
* Give the right of self-determination to First Peoples in the Victorian criminal justice system
* Establish and adequately resource an independent police oversight authority
* Ban routine strip searches in prisons and youth justice centres
* Raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years with no exceptions, and prohibit the detention of children under 16
* Create a presumption in favour of bail for all offences except murder, terrorism and other similar charges
HOW HAS THE GOVERNMENT RESPONDED?
* Accepted four of the second interim report's 46 recommendations in full and 24 in principle
* Still considering 15, including a standalone Indigenous child protection system
* Rejected three recommendations, including raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14 years without exceptions and outlawing the detention of children under 16 years
WHAT IS IT CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO?
* Ownership and other matters connected to land, sky and waters before turning its attention to health, education and housing
Australian Associated Press
