Evidence Library

Anonymous 1490 identifies as a non-First Nations person who has witnessed systemic racism against First Nations people in terms of land rights, criminal justice and prisons, and in the workplace. They make their submission to record what they have seen and to support truth-telling, Treaty, self-determination and healing.

Laura Griffin is a legal academic of Anglo settler heritage at La Trobe University Law School has had the privilege of undertaking or supervising research on historical and ongoing injustices against First Peoples, focusing on colonial laws and legal institutions. They coordinate the Law School’s Indigenous Strategy and prepared a Scoping Paper on Decolonising the Law Curriculum.

Their submission compromises a series of documents. This file summarises how each document relates to the work of the Yoorrook Justice Commission (‘Yoorrook’) and/or to upcoming Treaty negotiations, and offers recommendations on that basis. Some of this research has been undertaken individually, and some in collaboration with colleagues or former students.

This submission is from a takatāpui (LGBTQIA+ Māori) rōpū (group) based in Narrm. They make this submission in the hopes it contributes to the healing of the wounds of colonial violence.

The submission covers:

1. background regarding their whakapapa as a rōpū;
2. the kaupapa of their submission & rōpū experiences;
3. their expression of support for Aboriginal kaupapa as Indigenous manuhiri in Victoria;
4. and further acknowledgements

It also includes a waiata (song) described as a “a love song to Aboriginal land and peoples”.

From August 1977 to April 1980, Philip McKeon was a voluntary worker at an entertainment centre in St Kilda, recording proceedings at an Australian Constitutional Convention and providing a safe space for the Blak community. Despite police raids and personal assaults, they continued their activism, eventually seeking political asylum in Sweden due to police violence in custody. After returning to Australia, they resumed their engagement with the Blak community and exhibited their artwork in 1984.

This submission recalls witnessing racism in Bairnsdale in the 80s/90s, including an incident where police treated two First Nations people unfairly. This experience made them aware of their privilege as a white person and led to a lifelong commitment to advancing human rights, especially for First Peoples, in their work and family life.