Queensland Government Repeals Path to Treaty and Introduces Tough Youth Justice Laws
The LNP's first legislative actions include scrapping Indigenous truth-telling initiatives and proposing harsher penalties for young offenders, bypassing standard parliamentary scrutiny.
- The Queensland government has repealed the Path to Treaty Act, ending the First Nations Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry and treaty-making body, citing a focus on measurable outcomes in health, education, and housing for Indigenous communities.
- The repeal was introduced as part of an urgent omnibus bill, bypassing standard committee review, and was criticized for its lack of consultation with Indigenous leaders and stakeholders.
- The government also tabled its 'Making Queensland Safer' legislation, which includes harsher penalties for youth offenders, such as mandatory life sentences for young people convicted of murder with a 20-year non-parole period.
- Advocacy groups and experts have raised concerns that the youth justice reforms will disproportionately affect Indigenous children and worsen outcomes without addressing underlying issues like poverty and systemic inequality.
- The legislative package, passed with urgency, also includes provisions for Olympic Games infrastructure planning and changes to union workplace entry rules, further drawing criticism for undermining transparency and due process.
The Guardian 
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation 