Victoria’s Indigenous People Experienced ‘Genocide,’ Truth-Telling Inquiry Finds — Yoorrook Justice Commission Issues 100 Recommendations for Healing
Yoorrook Justice Commission Calls Victoria’s History ‘Genocide’
Victoria’s Indigenous communities have long faced systemic injustice, and a landmark truth-telling inquiry has now officially described their experience as “genocide.” The Yoorrook Justice Commission, tasked with uncovering the historical and ongoing impacts of colonisation on First Nations peoples in Victoria, delivered its final report with a stark and powerful message.
While the commission was divided over parts of the report, it collectively made 100 recommendations aimed at healing, reconciliation, and justice for Indigenous Victorians.
What the Inquiry Revealed
The commission’s investigation detailed decades of violence, dispossession, and cultural destruction inflicted on Aboriginal communities since European settlement. It concluded that these acts fit the international definition of genocide, given the deliberate intent to destroy the identity, culture, and people of Victoria’s Indigenous nations.
The report includes:
- Evidence of massacres, forced removals, and cultural suppression.
- Documentation of laws and policies that targeted Indigenous peoples for erasure.
- Testimonies from survivors and descendants about ongoing trauma.
Healing and Reconciliation: 100 Recommendations
The Yoorrook Justice Commission’s 100 recommendations cover a wide range of areas designed to foster healing and justice, including:
- Cultural revitalisation programs to restore language and traditions.
- Education reforms to teach all Victorians about Indigenous history and truth.
- Legal and policy changes to protect Indigenous rights and land.
- Community-led healing initiatives to address intergenerational trauma.
- Measures to strengthen Indigenous representation in government and decision-making.
Commission’s Division and Public Reaction
Despite broad agreement on the severity of the findings, the commission was split on some recommendations and language in the final report, reflecting ongoing debates within and beyond Indigenous communities about the best path forward.
The report has sparked widespread discussion across Victoria and Australia, highlighting the urgent need to address historical wrongs and move towards genuine reconciliation.
What Comes Next?
Government bodies, community leaders, and the public will now face the challenge of implementing the commission’s recommendations. The path forward involves not only acknowledgement but concrete action to heal and rebuild.
The Yoorrook report is a call to action for all Victorians to confront uncomfortable truths and participate actively in a shared future based on justice and respect.