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Truth and Justice Commission

Current status

This bill did not become law and is no longer proceeding.

Policy area

Law, justice & rights

What does this bill do?

Creates a national Truth and Justice CommissionThe proposed national body that would investigate injustices against First Peoples and report recommendations to Parliament. to investigate historic and ongoing injustices against First PeoplesThe people the bill says were harmed by the injustices it would examine, meaning Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. and recommend action to Parliament.

Why was it introduced?

Historic and ongoing injustices against First PeoplesThe people the bill says were harmed by the injustices it would examine, meaning Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples., and their continuing impacts, left no national process to fully investigate them and recommend redress. This bill creates a Truth and Justice CommissionThe proposed national body that would investigate injustices against First Peoples and report recommendations to Parliament. to examine those injustices, gather evidence, and report to Parliament with findings and reforms.

Broader context

Australia had no national process to fully investigate historical and ongoing injustices against First PeoplesThe people the bill says were harmed by the injustices it would examine, meaning Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples., even as debate after the 2023 Voice referendum kept attention on how those harms were recorded, understood and addressed. The Truth and Justice CommissionThe proposed national body that would investigate injustices against First Peoples and report recommendations to Parliament. Bill 2024 responded by proposing a national commission with First Nations-majority membership, public hearings and powers to compel evidence, but the measure did not pass and lapsed at the end of the Parliament in July 2025.

Key criticism

The main recorded opposition came during the committee-referral vote, where Senator Jonathon Duniam said the motion was inconsistent with the 2023 referendum result and would entrench division. A separate design concern from supporters was that any commission would need to be independent, First Nations-led, trauma informed and culturally safe.

Who supported it?

Senator Dorinda Cox introduced this bill. Speeches supporting it came from Greens.

Introduced in Senate 02 July 2024
Failed in Senate 21 July 2025
Did not reach House —
Did not become law —

Did it become law?

No

The bill did not complete passage through Parliament.

Final passage

Did not pass

1 recorded vote before the bill stopped proceeding

Time before failure

384 days

From introduction to the final recorded step before the bill stopped proceeding

Official record

View on APH

Parliament of Australia bill page

Meaning

What does this bill do?

  1. Creates a national Truth and Justice CommissionThe proposed national body that would investigate injustices against First Peoples and report recommendations to Parliament. to investigate historic and ongoing injustices against First PeoplesThe people the bill says were harmed by the injustices it would examine, meaning Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. and recommend action to Parliament.

  2. Sets up the Truth and Justice CommissionThe proposed national body that would investigate injustices against First Peoples and report recommendations to Parliament. with 10 members from across Australia, including two chief commissionersThe two members who would lead the commission and give it its top decision-making direction., to lead the inquiry.

  3. Requires the Attorney-GeneralThe senior law officer who would help appoint commission members and approve some assistance decisions under the bill. and Indigenous Affairs MinisterThe minister who would work with the Attorney-General to appoint commission members and approve some commission decisions. to consult stakeholders and make sure most Truth and Justice CommissionThe proposed national body that would investigate injustices against First Peoples and report recommendations to Parliament. members are First Nations peopleThe people the bill says were harmed by the injustices it would examine, meaning Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples..

  4. Gives the Truth and Justice CommissionThe proposed national body that would investigate injustices against First Peoples and report recommendations to Parliament. strong powers to force witnesses to attend, answer questions and hand over documents during hearings.

  5. Requires the Truth and Justice CommissionThe proposed national body that would investigate injustices against First Peoples and report recommendations to Parliament. to deliver a final report within four years, with findings, supporting evidence and recommendations, while allowing interim reports earlier.

Show source excerpts
  1. This bill would establish a Commission to inquire into and make recommendations to Parliament on particular matters relating to historic and ongoing injustices against First Peoples in Australia and the impacts of these injustices on First Peoples.
    Truth and Justice Commission explanatory memorandum
  2. The Commission is to be known as the Truth and Justice Commission. The Commission is to be constituted by 10 members consisting of one member from each State, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory and 2 Chief Commissioners.
    Truth and Justice Commission explanatory memorandum
  3. Before the Joint Ministers appoint a person as a member, they must consult with relevant stakeholders. In appointing the members, the Joint Ministers must also ensure that a majority of the members are First Nations people.
    Truth and Justice Commission explanatory memorandum
  4. 15. This clause provides the Commission with coercive powers to compel a witness to attend a hearing, to give evidence and to produce documents. Counsel assisting the Commission may also cross-examine a witness as well as people called to give evidence or their legal practitioners.
    Truth and Justice Commission explanatory memorandum
  5. 10. Clause 10 requires the Commission to submit a final report within 4 years of commencement and allows the Commission to submit interim reports if it sees fit. The final report must contain findings of fact, including the evidence necessary to substantiate the findings of fact, and make any relevant recommendations.
    Truth and Justice Commission explanatory memorandum

Context

Broader context for this bill

Australia had no national process to fully investigate historical and ongoing injustices against First PeoplesThe people the bill says were harmed by the injustices it would examine, meaning Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples., even as debate after the 2023 Voice referendum kept attention on how those harms were recorded, understood and addressed. The Truth and Justice CommissionThe proposed national body that would investigate injustices against First Peoples and report recommendations to Parliament. Bill 2024 responded by proposing a national commission with First Nations-majority membership, public hearings and powers to compel evidence, but the measure did not pass and lapsed at the end of the Parliament in July 2025.

  1. 2023

    Voice referendum defeat sharpens calls for a national truth-telling body

    In her second reading speech, Senator Cox said the bill followed the 2023 referendum and sought to build a formal independent body for truth after millions of Australians voted for change.

    Second reading speech ↗
  2. 02 July 2024

    Senate bill proposes a national Truth and Justice CommissionThe proposed national body that would investigate injustices against First Peoples and report recommendations to Parliament.

    The bill was introduced to create a 10-member national commission to investigate historical and ongoing injustices against First PeoplesThe people the bill says were harmed by the injustices it would examine, meaning Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. and report its findings and recommendations to Parliament.

    Parliamentary timeline ↗
  3. 02 July 2024

    Bill sets out hearings across Australia and powers to compel evidence

    The explanatory memorandum said the proposed commission could hold hearings around Australia, require witnesses to attend and answer questions, and force the production of documents.

    Australian Parliament House ↗
  4. 21 July 2025

    Truth and Justice CommissionThe proposed national body that would investigate injustices against First Peoples and report recommendations to Parliament. Bill lapses at end of Parliament

    The proposal did not complete its parliamentary passage and fell away when the Parliament ended, leaving the national commission uncreated.

    Parliamentary timeline ↗

Legislative route

How did it move through Parliament?

House Senate
Introduced 02 July 2024

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.

Introduced and read a first time

Second reading opened 02 July 2024

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs; Inquiry lapsed at dissolution of House of Representatives 28/03/2025 review 04 July 2024

Referred to Committee (04/07/2024): Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs; Inquiry lapsed at dissolution of House of Representatives 28/03/2025

Referred to committee

APH bill page notes
Lapsed at end of Parliament 21 July 2025

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Key criticism

The main case against this bill

The main recorded opposition came during the committee-referral vote, where Senator Jonathon Duniam said the motion was inconsistent with the 2023 referendum result and would entrench division. A separate design concern from supporters was that any commission would need to be independent, First Nations-led, trauma informed and culturally safe.

The record shows both substantive opposition to the proposal and supporter-side concerns about how a commission should operate.

Could reopen referendum division

Duniam opposed referring the bill to inquiry, saying the motion did not respect the 2023 referendum result and would entrench separatism and division instead of focusing on practical outcomes.

Raised by Senator Jonathon Duniam (Coalition) Source ↗

Commission design needed strong safeguards

Supporters also argued that any commission would need to be genuinely independent, mainly First Nations-led, trauma informed and culturally safe for affected communities.

Raised by Senator Dorinda Cox (Greens) Source ↗

Further sources

parlinfo.aph.gov.au ↗ parlinfo.aph.gov.au ↗

Votes

Recorded votes

Amendments at a glance

Other recorded votes grouped by chamber. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.

Senate

Carried

Senate referred Truth and Justice bill to inquiry

Aye 32 No 26

Passed 32 to 26. Support came from Labor, Greens, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, and UAP. Minor-party and independent votes were split.

04 July 2024

This was a procedural vote to send the bill to committee rather than proceed directly in the chamber. Because the motion passed, the bill was referred for further examination.

Party Recorded votes Aye / No
Labor 16 / 0
Liberal Party 0 / 15
Greens 10 / 0
Unknown 3 / 6
Independent 3 / 0
Nationals 0 / 3
One Nation 0 / 1
UAP 0 / 1

This list includes amendment votes, procedural votes and votes on the bill itself.

Parliamentary debate

Who spoke, and what they said

Start here — lead voices

Sponsor speech Supports

Dorinda Cox

Australian Greens • Senator 02 July 2024

Cox strongly supports the bill and says the Greens are commending it to the Senate because a Truth and Justice CommissionThe proposed national body that would investigate injustices against First Peoples and report recommendations to Parliament. is needed to record historic and ongoing injustices against First PeoplesThe people the bill says were harmed by the injustices it would examine, meaning Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. and support truth-telling, healing and treaty-making.

Read in Hansard ↗

All speeches by bloc

Greens

1 speaker · 1 support

  1. Dorinda Cox ★ Cox strongly supports the bill and says the Greens are commending it to the Senate because a Truth and Justice CommissionThe proposed national body that would investigate injustices against First Peoples and report recommendations to Parliament. is needed to record historic and ongoing injustices against First PeoplesThe people the bill says were harmed by the injustices it would examine, meaning Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. and support truth-telling, healing and treaty-making.
    “Today I commend this Bill to the Senate, a Bill to establish a Truth and Justice Commission to record historic and ongoing injustices against First Peoples in Australia.”

    Australian Greens • Senator • 02 July 2024

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗

Record

Full record

Full chat