The Queensland Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry is again accepting submissions, to give people an opportunity to share their stories before the Liberal National Party shuts it down.
On Friday afternoon, inquiry chair Joshua Creamer said they had paused work to seek further information from the Queensland Government, after he had made six requests for an urgent meeting with the premier, the Indigenous affairs minister or the director-general of the department.
A meeting scheduled between the inquiry and Indigenous Affairs Minister Fiona Simpson was postponed, and Mr Creamer said he'd received "very little communication" from the government.
"I saw the minister at the women's legal service breakfast yesterday and she ran away from me," Mr Creamer said.
"She certainly wasn't coming up to me for a chat.
"She saw me and went the other way."
Mr Creamer said it had been 23 days since David Crisafulli had announced in a press conference the inquiry would not be allowed to continue its work.
He acknowledged the government could potentially repeal the legislation when the parliament returned on November 26.
"We certainly can't sit around here for months and months and months waiting for them to do something," he said.
"We've got a responsibility as members under the act, and I've got responsibilities in terms of effective and efficient use of resources."
Mr Creamer said anyone who wishes to share evidence or materials with the inquiry is encouraged to come forward and take up this final opportunity for their experience to form part of the record.
He said are open and materials provided to the inquiry will be collected and preserved by the Queensland State Archives.
But, the inquiry will not be conducting any truth-telling sessions or hearings, as it is unable to commit to providing the necessary ongoing support for staff, individuals and communities.
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"The workplan enables the inquiry to work towards a respectful closure ... it demonstrates effective and respectful use of public resources to deliver outcomes in the interest of all Queenslanders, because the story of Queensland connects us all," the statement said.
Mr Creamer stated that it is unprecedented in Queensland for an independent inquiry to be shut down by a change of government.
"As the inquiry navigates this uncertain time, we will continue to seek further information from the Queensland Government about its plans to cease the Inquiry, including how it will support participants and staff employed to assist the inquiry," he said.
The union representing teachers and support staff in Queensland's non-government schools commended the move to reopen submissions.
Independent Education Union – Queensland and Northern Territory branch secretary Terry Burke said the decision by the inquiry was appropriate and proper in the face of the Crisafulli Government’s "shameful" actions.
“The lack of fundamental courtesy being demonstrated by the new Queensland government in ignoring the Commission’s repeated requests to meet with the relevant minister is disgraceful,” Mr Burke said.
“It shows a lack of fundamental respect to First Nations Peoples, the Inquiry and those who have made submissions to date.
“We strongly support today’s decision by the commission chair and encourage our members and others to tell their stories to the Commission as soon as possible to get those matters on the public record in the state archives.
“We again urge the new Queensland Premier to reconsider his plans to repeal the Path to Treaty Act.
“David Crisafulli can still be on the right side of history and not silence the voices of First Nations peoples."
Last year spoke in favour of the Path to Treaty bill, saying he hoped it could be the catalyst for true accountability of government and materially improving the lives of Indigenous people in Queensland.
"Path to Treaty is a genuine opportunity for our state to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians," he told parliament during debate.
"It is an opportunity I believe Queensland should embrace wholeheartedly."
However, since becoming leader of the Liberal National Party, Mr Crisafulli has reversed his position and a short time after being elected in late October told the media that upcoming truth-telling hearings in Cherbourg and Minjerribah/Terrangerri (Stradbroke Island) would not be allowed to go ahead, despite months of preparation.
"Even just in Cherbourg, for example ... we prepared 40 witnesses that would spend at least two or three hours each telling their evidence," Mr Creamer said.
"That's a big body of evidence from one community and the depth and the detail of that history will be lost, and really the opportunity for Queensland to understand its history will be lost by shelving the inquiry."
In a statement to NITV, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Fiona Simpson said the Government made its position on the Path to Treaty Act very clear while in Opposition, following Queensland’s overwhelming decision on the unsuccessful Voice referendum.
Ms Simpson said she wrote to Mr Creamer on November 4, requesting further truth-telling sessions, notices, hearings and other work of the inquiry be placed on hold until such time as the Government repeals the Act, and told him on Tuesday that advice around timeframes would be provided as soon as practicable.
"It’s notable Mr Creamer has acknowledged this and despite the legislation not yet being repealed, he has taken steps of his own accord to expedite the development and implementation of the operational plan to close the inquiry," she said.
