Key Facts
• In 19th century Victoria, British settlers committed genocide against Indigenous Australians.
• The Yoorrook Justice Commission, established in 2021, led the investigation.
• From the 1830s, Indigenous population dropped from 60,000 to 15,000 by 1851.
• Causes included violence, disease, cultural erasure, and forced assimilation policies.
• The report identifies “genocide” and recommends 100 corrective measures.
• Recommendations include education reform, healthcare funding, and government apologies.
• Over 1,300 submissions and months of hearings informed the report.
• Three of five commission members disagreed with some key findings.
• Victoria’s government pledged to carefully review the findings.
• Indigenous leader Jill Gallagher emphasized the need to confront historical truths.
Summary
A groundbreaking report by the Yoorrook Justice Commission has confirmed that British settlers committed genocide against Indigenous Australians in 19th century Victoria. The investigation revealed that violence, disease, and assimilation policies reduced the Indigenous population by 75% within two decades of colonization. The report, based on extensive hearings and submissions, outlines 100 recommendations, including education reform, healthcare improvements, and government apologies. While some commission members disagreed with certain findings, the Victorian government has vowed to review the report. Indigenous leaders stress the importance of acknowledging these historical atrocities to foster reconciliation. This marks Australia’s first formal recognition of such events, with similar inquiries underway in other states.
