Bombshell ‘genocide' finding in Aussie report
The landmark Yoorrook for Justice report into Victoria's Child Protection and Criminal Justice Systems, released on Tuesday, made 46 recommendations based on findings gathered across 67 days of public hearings, the testimony of more than 200 witnesses and the contributions of 1,500 first nations people. Officials gather at the opening ceremony of the Yoorrook Commission's hearings. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia
The Yoorrook Justice Commission was established in 2021 to examine the 'extent and impact of historical and ongoing systemic injustice' against Indigenous Australians in Victoria since the start of colonisation.
In their final report, the Commission found serious crimes were committed against Indigenous Australians from 1834 - including ' mass killings, disease, sexual violence, exclusion, linguicide, cultural erasure, environmental degradation, child removal, absorption and assimilation'.
'Yoorrook found that the decimation of the First Peoples population in Victoria between 1 per cent and 5 per cent of the pre-colonisation population by 1901 was the result of 'a coordinated plan of different actions aimed at the destruction of the essential foundations of the life of national groups',' the report states.
'This was genocide.'
In addition, the Commission found Victoria's child protection system is not only discriminatory, but that it causes trauma, disconnects children from their culture and is in breach of 'fundamental cultural and human rights of the child'. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan gives evidence before the Yoorrook Justice Commission which will begin hearings into injustices against First Peoples near Healesville. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia
Speaking to Patricia Karvelas on ABC's Afternoon Briefing, former co-chair of the First Peoples Assembly Marcus Stewart called the report 'historic'.
'We needed to look at the systemic injustices that had happened throughout Victoria to First Nations people. And we needed a mechanism in order to do that so our people could come forward, speak their truth, tell their stories,' Mr Stewart said.
'It's important to know that these mechanisms have been used worldwide,' he said.
'Canada had a Truth and Reconciliation Commission that examined residential schools.
'East Timor had a truth telling process (after) Indonesian occupation, and the most famous … was chaired by the late Desmond Tutu in South Africa.' Marcus Stewart speaks in Federation Square. NewsWire / Valeriu Campan Credit: News Corp Australia Yoorrook Commissioner Travis Lovett. Supplied Credit: Supplied
Speaking on the correlations between current and historical conditions faced by Indigenous children, Mr Stewart said the document was 'heavy'.
'The act of genocide did occur on our shores and in particular, did significantly impact First Nations people here in Victoria.'
'This process isn't to lay blame, but to create opportunity.'
On Tuesday night, Yoorrook Commissioner Travis Lovett took to Instagram to tell Australians to 'take the time to read the recommendations'.
'This is not light reading, but it is necessary. For the first time, we as Aboriginal People have held the pen and told our truths, in our words,' he wrote.
'This official public record has the power to change forever how people learn about the true history of this state. It must be included in the Victorian school curriculum so that future generations grow up knowing the full story.'
'It's moving, it may make you cry, but it will make you think'.
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Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson also ate the meal but survived after spending months in hospital. Patterson claims it was all an accident and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one charge of attempted murder. The jury heard from more than 50 prosecution witnesses throughout the trial before Patterson entered the witness box for eight days. The prosecution and defence then spent a week delivering their closing arguments before Justice Christopher Beale provided his directions to the jury. He said the jurors needed to consider whether the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt Patterson deliberately served death caps with the intention to kill her guests. Justice Beale reminded the jurors if they held any doubts about Patterson's guilt, they must acquit her. "You cannot be satisfied that the accused is guilty of an offence if you have a reasonable doubt if she is guilty of the offence," he told the jury on Monday. 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They returned to the court about 10.30am on Tuesday where they spent a full day deliberating before being sent home to their sequestered accommodation at 4.15pm. Black tarp has been placed across the front of Patterson's home, in Leongatha, since the jury retired to deliberate on Monday. After hearing more than two months of evidence, the jury must decide whether Patterson, 50, intentionally served her lunch guests beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms. Her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather, all died after consuming the lunch at Patterson's regional Victorian home on July 29, 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson also ate the meal but survived after spending months in hospital. Patterson claims it was all an accident and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one charge of attempted murder. The jury heard from more than 50 prosecution witnesses throughout the trial before Patterson entered the witness box for eight days. The prosecution and defence then spent a week delivering their closing arguments before Justice Christopher Beale provided his directions to the jury. He said the jurors needed to consider whether the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt Patterson deliberately served death caps with the intention to kill her guests. Justice Beale reminded the jurors if they held any doubts about Patterson's guilt, they must acquit her. "You cannot be satisfied that the accused is guilty of an offence if you have a reasonable doubt if she is guilty of the offence," he told the jury on Monday. The jury is being sequestered during the deliberations and will have to remain together until unanimous verdicts are reached on all charges. Justice Beale reiterated that every juror must agree on the verdict, although it did not matter how each person reached their conclusion. He reminded the jurors they cannot return home until their unanimous decision. The jury can deliver its verdicts any time from 10.30am to 4.15pm on Monday through to Saturday. They'll remain sequestered on Sunday if they have not reached a verdict but will not deliberate that day. The jury will return to the court to reconvene their deliberations on Wednesday morning. The mushroom trial jury has been sent back to their accommodation after completing their first full day of deliberations on whether Erin Patterson is guilty of a triple murder. Twelve jurors retired to consider their verdict on Monday afternoon as the Victorian Supreme Court trial at Morwell, in regional Victoria, reached its 10th week. They returned to the court about 10.30am on Tuesday where they spent a full day deliberating before being sent home to their sequestered accommodation at 4.15pm. Black tarp has been placed across the front of Patterson's home, in Leongatha, since the jury retired to deliberate on Monday. After hearing more than two months of evidence, the jury must decide whether Patterson, 50, intentionally served her lunch guests beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms. Her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather, all died after consuming the lunch at Patterson's regional Victorian home on July 29, 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson also ate the meal but survived after spending months in hospital. Patterson claims it was all an accident and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one charge of attempted murder. The jury heard from more than 50 prosecution witnesses throughout the trial before Patterson entered the witness box for eight days. The prosecution and defence then spent a week delivering their closing arguments before Justice Christopher Beale provided his directions to the jury. He said the jurors needed to consider whether the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt Patterson deliberately served death caps with the intention to kill her guests. Justice Beale reminded the jurors if they held any doubts about Patterson's guilt, they must acquit her. "You cannot be satisfied that the accused is guilty of an offence if you have a reasonable doubt if she is guilty of the offence," he told the jury on Monday. The jury is being sequestered during the deliberations and will have to remain together until unanimous verdicts are reached on all charges. Justice Beale reiterated that every juror must agree on the verdict, although it did not matter how each person reached their conclusion. He reminded the jurors they cannot return home until their unanimous decision. The jury can deliver its verdicts any time from 10.30am to 4.15pm on Monday through to Saturday. They'll remain sequestered on Sunday if they have not reached a verdict but will not deliberate that day. The jury will return to the court to reconvene their deliberations on Wednesday morning. The mushroom trial jury has been sent back to their accommodation after completing their first full day of deliberations on whether Erin Patterson is guilty of a triple murder. Twelve jurors retired to consider their verdict on Monday afternoon as the Victorian Supreme Court trial at Morwell, in regional Victoria, reached its 10th week. They returned to the court about 10.30am on Tuesday where they spent a full day deliberating before being sent home to their sequestered accommodation at 4.15pm. Black tarp has been placed across the front of Patterson's home, in Leongatha, since the jury retired to deliberate on Monday. After hearing more than two months of evidence, the jury must decide whether Patterson, 50, intentionally served her lunch guests beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms. Her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather, all died after consuming the lunch at Patterson's regional Victorian home on July 29, 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson also ate the meal but survived after spending months in hospital. Patterson claims it was all an accident and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one charge of attempted murder. The jury heard from more than 50 prosecution witnesses throughout the trial before Patterson entered the witness box for eight days. The prosecution and defence then spent a week delivering their closing arguments before Justice Christopher Beale provided his directions to the jury. He said the jurors needed to consider whether the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt Patterson deliberately served death caps with the intention to kill her guests. Justice Beale reminded the jurors if they held any doubts about Patterson's guilt, they must acquit her. "You cannot be satisfied that the accused is guilty of an offence if you have a reasonable doubt if she is guilty of the offence," he told the jury on Monday. The jury is being sequestered during the deliberations and will have to remain together until unanimous verdicts are reached on all charges. Justice Beale reiterated that every juror must agree on the verdict, although it did not matter how each person reached their conclusion. He reminded the jurors they cannot return home until their unanimous decision. The jury can deliver its verdicts any time from 10.30am to 4.15pm on Monday through to Saturday. They'll remain sequestered on Sunday if they have not reached a verdict but will not deliberate that day. The jury will return to the court to reconvene their deliberations on Wednesday morning.
