She welcomes the report of the Yoorook Justice Commission, and says it is no surprise that the first formal truth-telling inquiry has found crimes against humanity were committed against First Peoples, including the most serious of all crimes, Genocide. 

Senator Thorpe echoes the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s powerful message that the past is the present, and calls on the Federal Government to take national action on truth and Treaty, and to address the policies, practices and legislation that still exist and facilitate modern-day acts of Genocide, such as assimilation, displacement from Country, child removals, incarceration and deaths in custody.

Quotes attributable to Lidia Thorpe, Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung independent Victorian Senator:

"Thank you to those who were staunchly committed to telling the truth and have fought so hard to expose it and finally tell our stories. When we stand together and refuse to compromise on the truth and our sovereign rights as First Peoples, we are strong and unstoppable.

"The truth is nothing to be afraid of if you are willing to end the harm. It is an opportunity for justice, accountability, healing and a chance to build something better for everyone.

"The final Yoorrook report clearly calls for Commonwealth action, in areas such as Native Title and the safe return of cultural, secret and sacred objects. But the findings of the report apply to the whole country in more aspects than that. Genocide has not just occured in Victoria, but has been perpetrated against all First Peoples of this continent. It is the federal government’s responsibility to uphold our international human rights obligations, including the prevention and punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

"During my time as a Senator, I have continuously called out the Genocide on First Peoples of this country and sought to bring this to the public attention, both nationally and internationally.

"But governments across the country do not want to know about this. They are scared of what consequences it could bring to acknowledge Genocide has and still continues.

"The government protects itself through an Attorney General’s Fiat, which means that only the Attorney General can decide if a case of Genocide or crimes against humanity is brought to a court in this country. It’s a sophisticated indemnity scheme and it is intentional.

"Last year, I brought a bill to the Senate to remove this very fiat and an inquiry into my bill clearly showed that international and human rights law experts and First Peoples here and across the world believe this fiat is not in line with our human rights obligations. The Labor government voted the bill down - to protect itself. It is a continuation of the colonial and genocidal legacy.

"The formal recognition of Genocide and our rights to Treaty as independent nations, nation to nation, is powerful. Now the Federal Government must follow, accept this truth, and facilitate a national response led and directed by First Peoples.

"As a Senator, the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) has been a core focus of my work. While my Private Senators Bill to this effect got voted down by the Labor government in 2023, I am pleased to see Yoorrook clearly recommending UNDRIP’s implementation in recommendation 8, including through an audit of existing legislation’s compatibility and ensuring our rights of First Peoples are upheld.

"Recommendation 3 calls for the full transfer of decision-making power, authority, control, and resources to First Peoples giving full effect to self-determination in all policies and programs that affect us. This means all decisions about children in out-of-home care must be removed from government control and placed under the responsibility of First Peoples.

"Our rights as First Peoples include the right to political representation. I support the establishment of the First People’s Assembly as a permanent body and representation of our people in the parliament in a way that is not aligned to a political party structure and can stay true to our people.

"It is important that this permanent body is not a powerless one, and that it is not shaped by the government of the time. It is important our people get to decide the composition, functions, powers and procedures of this body.

"The policies of genocide, assimilation and destruction are not behind us, they are the foundations of the systems that continue to harm our people today. This is why in the Northern Territory alone up to 40 First Nations people are arrested per day, and child removals continue to climb. This is not just a state issue, it is a national tragedy.

"If you know a wrong is being committed, you have to make it right. I welcome the final report’s recommendations for a treaty framework to negotiate redress for damage and loss, including economic and non-economic loss. International law demands no less.

"International law mandates that states have an obligation to provide reparations to victims of genocide. Redress has worked in other countries and can work here. Any redress must be negotiated with First Peoples through a Treaty process and must not be gate kept by peak bodies or native title corporations - it must reach our people who need it most.

"Redress can contribute to healing, and to start righting some of the wrongs committed over centuries. But redress alone is not the solution - it must be accompanied by systemic change."