>Any move by a future government to end Queensland’s in-process First Nations truth-telling inquiry and treaty groundwork would have a significant impact on the community, the inquiry’s head says.
>Following the failed federal Voice referendum in October, Crisafulli cited the “divisive debate” as the reason his party could “no longer support a Path to Treaty and will not pursue one if elected”.
>Pressed on what this would look like in practice for the inquiry and treaty institute, Crisafulli’s office declined to give more detail.
>**What they said**
>Any government can come along and repeal the legislation, but until such time that occurs, we’ve got a job to do,” Creamer, an accomplished Waanyi and Kalkadoon barrister, told journalists.
>“I think it would have a significant impact on the community to not let this process occur.”
>He said any such outcome could mean losing the opportunity to gather first-hand evidence of dispossession, discrimination, resistance and resilience being lost each year as elders passed away.
>“It’s critical that we get direct evidence – so evidence from people who smelled, saw, seen it, heard it – and over time that diminishes.”
1 Comment
>[Matt Dennien](https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/by/matt-dennien-p4yvo3)
>Updated September 17, 2024
>**The news**
>Any move by a future government to end Queensland’s in-process First Nations truth-telling inquiry and treaty groundwork would have a significant impact on the community, the inquiry’s head says.
>“We don’t know if we’d ever get that opportunity again,” Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry chair Joshua Creamer told journalists after the independent inquiry’s [ceremonial opening](https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/brisbane-news-live-man-charged-over-horror-crash-that-injured-five-trump-assassination-attempt-20240913-p5kadi.html?post=p57lte#p57lte) in Brisbane.
>“It might be the only occasion we get to bring that history to the surface so that everyone can learn, explore and celebrate.”
>**Why it matters**
>What is set to be a three-year, First Nations-led inquiry to create “the authoritative record” of European colonisation and its impact in the past [and present](https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/class-action-to-tackle-racist-child-removals-its-ripples-could-be-wider-20231127-p5en1r.html) has been itself [decades in the making](https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/the-path-to-treaty-requires-more-than-writing-in-the-sand-20230215-p5ckus.html).
>But the work has started under a cloud, after the LNP opposition [withdrew support](https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/qld-lnp-drops-support-for-first-nations-treaties-to-avoid-division-20231019-p5edgs.html) despite MPs voting for laws to establish path to treaty last May, and vocal backing from leader David Crisafulli.
>Following the failed federal Voice referendum in October, Crisafulli cited the “divisive debate” as the reason his party could “no longer support a Path to Treaty and will not pursue one if elected”.
>Pressed on what this would look like in practice for the inquiry and treaty institute, Crisafulli’s office declined to give more detail.
>**What they said**
>Any government can come along and repeal the legislation, but until such time that occurs, we’ve got a job to do,” Creamer, an accomplished Waanyi and Kalkadoon barrister, told journalists.
>“I think it would have a significant impact on the community to not let this process occur.”
>He said any such outcome could mean losing the opportunity to gather first-hand evidence of dispossession, discrimination, resistance and resilience being lost each year as elders passed away.
>“It’s critical that we get direct evidence – so evidence from people who smelled, saw, seen it, heard it – and over time that diminishes.”