Senior public servants were prepared to accept the reality of racism in Victoria's criminal justice and child protection systems during this week's hearings at the Yoorrook Justice Commission. But reporter Kate Ashton asks whether that's all Victoria's truth-telling inquiry is looking for.
Internal police reports on systemic racism and confidential ministerial briefings on bail reform are among the thousands of documents the state government is withholding from Victoria's Indigenous truth-telling inquiry.
Balancing record: Australia s first truth commission to record Indigenous narrative miragenews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from miragenews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Wergaia/Wamba Wamba elder will head the five people who will run the Yoo-rrook Justice Commission.
Dr Wayne Atkinson, Ms Sue-Anne Hunter, Distinguished Professor Maggie Walter and Professor Kevin Bell QC were also announced as commissioners.
The inquiry will look at historic and ongoing injustices and is named after the Wemba Wemba-Wamba Wamba word for truth .
The inquiry will be independent of government and have the powers of a royal commission.
It will recommend reforms and will help guide the state s treaty negotiations with communities. I feel, for this century, this was a logical step for us, Prof Bourke said at Friday s announcement.