In an Australian-first, the Victorian Government will formally establish a truth-telling process to recognise and address historic wrongs and ongoing injustices against Indigenous Australians.
The democratically-elected First People's Assembly of Victoria will develop the terms of reference and how the body will work.
The process will aim to uncover historic injustices and ongoing wrongs while ensuring Aboriginal voices are heard and respected.
When established, the body will be the first of its kind in Australia.
"Establishing this process brings us one step closer to genuine reconciliation," Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Minister Gabrielle Williams said.
"We owe it to Aboriginal Victorians to be frank and honest about the injustices they have faced – and continue to face."
Marcus Stewart, co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, described the commitment to set up the truth-telling process as a "momentous decision".
Victorian First Peoples' Assembly co-chairs Marcus Stewart and Geraldine Atkinson. Source: Facebook: First People's Assembly of Victoria
"This is an historic moment in time. For the first time we're seeing a commitment to a truth-telling process in this country or state,” Mr Stewart said.
In June, the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria overwhelmingly voted to endorse a truth-telling process.
Similar bodies have been set up in countries such as South Africa, Canada and New Zealand.
First People's co-chair Geraldine Atkinson said those commissions have helped heal deep divisions caused by historic human rights abuses.
She is optimistic this truth-telling process can do the same in Australia by examining historic injustices such as the frontier wars, enslavement, over-incarceration and deaths in custody.
"Truth and reconciliation commissions have helped societies heal and recover from fractures and wounds across dozens of countries, including South Africa after apartheid, and in Canada to acknowledge abuses of its Indigenous peoples," she said.
"Truth-telling gives Victoria the opportunity to make the invisible visible and the pain of so many both heard and reconciled."
"It can create a future Victoria that we all belong to, we all connect with, and that our children embrace as their own piece of history."
The state government has described the process as a 'significant' step towards the establishment of a treaty between Victoria and it’s first nations.
"There is nothing more powerful than the truth, because with honesty comes healing," Ms Williams said.
"This will help us to address these injustices and build a stronger Victoria on a foundation of trust."
So far, Victoria is the only jurisdiction to act on the truth and treaty elements of the released in 2017.
Earlier this year, the Victorian Government also announced plans to establish a redress scheme for members of the Stolen Generations who were forcibly removed as children from their families.
