PTT Flashcards
PTT Act - Main Purposes
a) establish FN Treaty Institute to
i) develop and provide framework for A/TSI peoples & the State to enter treaty negs; and
ii) support A/TSI peoples to participate in treaty negs; and
b) provide for establishment of Truth-telling & Healing Enquiry to inquire into & report on impacts of colonisations of FN and history of the State
PPT Act - Principles for administering Act
1) ensure that, in partnership and good faith, the rights and history of A/TSI peoples are acknowledged and respected in accordance with:
a) Human Rights Act; and
b) the principles of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
2) + the following principles apply:
a) the importance of self-determination for A/TSI peoples;
b) importance of A/TSI peoples being able to give free, prior and informed consent as part of treaty negs and the making of a treaty;
c) the importance of respecting and protecting A/TSI law, tradition and customs
d) the importance of equality and non-discrimination
COI findings
examined QPS response to DV, found cultural issues within QPS have led to:
1. deficiencies in responding to DV involving FN peoples; (mistrust, fear of DOCS involvement, resistance violence)
2. overrepresentation of FN in CJS (plus broader combination of factors, ie a) colonisation, b) dispossession, c) intergenerational trauma and d) systemic racism)
**found racism is a significant problem, manifests as discriminatory behaviour towards FN employees, employees from other cultural backgrounds and members of the community - in breach of their human rights
COI consultation and recommendations
- nothing can change without meaningful engagement with FN peoples and communities;
- police at all levels need to be educated by FN peoples on the history of FN peoples in this country and the role of police in the violence and oppression inflicted on them;
- cultural knowledge is paramount
Recommendations have been made but REAL CHANGE will be made when QPS engages fully and meaningfully with FN communities across Queensland
Transformation Program Team within FND working with SME across Qld and Govt to support the delivery of these recommendations (four focus areas - barriers to reporting sexual violence, impacts of colonisation, racism and lack of cultural capability and community-led partnerships)
Cultural capability - what is
refers to the skills, knowledge, behaviours and systems that are required for police officers to plan, support, improve and deliver services for FN peoples and communities in a manner that is culturally respectful and appropriate
**distrust and fear are exacerbated when police do not have or do not demonstrate cultural capability
Cultural capability training
- the QPS has not provided its staff with appropriate cultural capability training about colonisation and the impacts of the historical and contemporary relationships between First Nations communities and police
- currently being rolled out via recruit training, soon to be state-wide
- involves FN trainer and non-indigenous trainer
Historical v Contemporary issues
Historical - police involved in massacres of an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 FN peoples during frontier wars, includes Native Mounted Police who may be responsible for up to half of these killings, capture of FN peoples and forcible movement to communities, the role of the superintendent in policing community, and the ‘protector’ being government appointed role in governing all matters pertaining to FN peoples, police enforcing legislation such as ‘the Act’
Contemporary - distrust and fear of police, police stations not considered safe, resistive violence, fear of child removal / DOCS intervention, fear of death in custody and other systemic barriers
Systemic barriers / discrimination
- overrepresented in CJS including incarceration rates - the last ten years has brought about significant changes to DV legislation and police responses directly contributing to increasing overrepresentation (Special Taskforce DFV in 2015 did not give in-depth consideration to the potential adverse impact of its recommendations on FN peoples and communities)
- health gap, life expectancy some 10-15 years younger than that of non-indigenous peoples
- education gap - less opportunity within remote areas
- generational poverty
Community-led partnerships
- essential to addressing historical and continuing distrust and fear of police that can be experienced by FN peoples
- investing time and resources in community-led models will equip QPS members with the knowledge of culture and protocols that will assist in culturally intelligent responses
- particularly critical in rural and remote communities
Treaty themes
- inclusion - conversation for all Queenslanders, both FN and non-FN
- reconciliation - Truth-telling and healing are at the heart of treaty not cause harm
- treaty ready - that all Queenslanders feel ready and supported to participate equally in treaty negotiations
PTT Act - how will it help?
establishes legislative framework to set up the FN Treaty Institute, and Truth-telling & Healing Inquiry
the next steps on PTT will
- build community understanding of our shared history and support the process of healing for individuals, communities and our State
- set a way forward for A/TSI peoples and the Qld Government to work together towards a future treaty or treaties
Treaty - what is a treaty and why do we need one
- Legally binding agreement
- Recognise wrongs
- Provide an opportunity to recast relationship between FN and non-FN peoples
for Qld it is about (treaty themes):
- INCLUSION the Qld Govt and A/TSI peoples coming together as equals to write our future together
- RECONCILIATION building a shared understanding of the past so we can build a strong and equal future based on respect
- TREATY READY supporting all Queenslanders to participate in a process that promotes healing, justice and reconciliation
Truth-telling - why is it important
- treaty must be based on truth - how past laws, policies and practices have, and continue to, impact A/TSI peoples
- the truth about our past will help Queenslanders understand how modern Queensland came to be, but it may be difficult and traumatic - that is why it must be combined with ‘healing’
create a plan for Queensland to build and share rich collections of A/TSI people’s stories that exist - acknowledge rich culture that has survived
2 stage approach:
1. local truth-telling and healing activities working with our public institutions
2. a formal truth-telling and healing inquiry set up under legislation
Collective pledge
- commitment to a reframed relationship and recognise A/TSI peoples are the first peoples of the land, wind, sky and waters that we now share
- the time is to reach out to each other, understand each other, to grow together and move together to a unified future where we value, respect and protect each other
- journey for those who are courageous enough to confront our uncomfortable past, the curious who long to find out and live with the truth and the optimists who dream of the possibilities of a future where we live comfortably with the past, free of blame and resentment because we commit to not repeating those things that shame us
FN Strategy
- provide strategic oversight / guidance to District strategies, practices and issues to ensure FN lens is applied
- share, develop and champion strategies to drive change across all Districts
- provide high le el ad ice to QPS SLT within Districts to ensure QPS strategic direction is aligned with service delivery needs of FN peoples and communities
QPS Strategic Plan / FN Affairs Operational Plan
- increase organisation cultural capability - maximise capability to respond to the needs of our communities including victims and those over represented in the CJS
- Enhance engagement opportunities - strengthen relationships which focus on reducing demand across the CJS and reducing harm, particularly for vulnerable Queenslanders
- Support and drive cultural inclusion across the organisation - continue to support and engage our people to create health, inclusive and safe workplaces
