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Accountability

Accountability is key to ensuring the government’s commitment to self-determination is translated into meaningful action. DPC’s goal is to establish transparent, Aboriginal-led accountability of government-funded organisations.

Focus within the accountability domain

Accountability is key to ensuring the government’s commitment to self-determination is translated into meaningful action. DPC’s goal is to establish transparent, Aboriginal-led accountability of government and government-funded organisations. This will ensure that policies and programs are responsive to Aboriginal needs, priorities and aspirations, and that government action is consistent with the self-determination enablers and guiding principles. The treaty and truth and justice processes currently underway will scrutinise government’s accountability and heighten expectations on government to deliver on its commitments.

Overview of progress within the accountability domain

DPC’s primary contribution to the accountability domain is through leading the development of the VGAAR. The VGAAR is published annually to monitor progress on improving outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians across the VAAF’s six domains. This fulfils one of DPC’s BP3 commitments, and ensures government is accountable to Aboriginal Victorians when progressing its commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. DPC also coordinates annual reporting through the SDRF to monitor departmental progress of actions related to the VAAF’s self-determination enablers. Work towards obtaining and publishing disaggregated data and future upgrades to the Aboriginal data dashboard, will further improve community access to local level data. This will enable communities to hold government to account for outcomes in their local area and to drive place-based decision making.

DPC drove a number of new and significant accountability processes, including establishment of a Stolen Generations Reparations Package and leading the whole of government response to the historic Yoorrook Justice Commission, in line with Victoria’s commitment to address historical wrongs and ongoing injustices. During this reporting period, DPC established the Yoorrook Justice Commission Response and Engagement Branch to support the State’s engagement with the Commission. Over the coming years, treaty and truth will shape what accountability looks like and show us how we can further strengthen government’s accountability to community.

The establishment of the Subcommittee (see Section 2.2.1) is another important step in strengthening DPC’s accountability to self-determination reform. The Subcommittee will support accountability across all areas of the department by improving internal systems, policies and processes to enable self-determination.

2.4.1. DPC’s contribution to government accountability

CASE STUDY 2.4.1: Establishment of the Yoorrook Justice Commission

The Commission is inquiring into historical and ongoing systemic injustices committed against Aboriginal Victorians by State and non-State entities since colonisation.

The Nation’s First Truth and Justice Process

The Victorian Government established the Yoorrook Justice Commission on 12 May 2021, following 10 months of work in partnership with the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria to develop the terms of reference for a truth and justice process. Funding of $58 million over four years was allocated to the truth and justice process in the 2020/21 State Budget, including $44 million for the establishment and operations of the independent, Aboriginal-led Commission.

Since its establishment, the Commission has developed the strategic priorities for its inquiry and begun work towards its three key goals of: creating a lasting public record of the truth; generating better understanding of the impacts of colonisation in the broader Victorian community; and making recommendations for changes to laws, institutions and systems to remedy injustices.

DPC established the Yoorrook Justice Commission Response and Engagement Branch to support the State’s engagement with the Commission and prepare departments to assist the Commission with its inquiry.

Next steps

The Commission will provide its interim report to by 30 June 2022 and continue its inquiry to support the development of its final report, due by 30 June 2024. The Commission's interim report may detail progress to date, emerging themes and issues and, if available, any initial findings that should be considered through the treaty process. DPC will lead the government response to these reports.

DPC will continue its open, transparent and genuine engagement with the Commission, including by providing documents and other information requested by the Commission and responding to the interim report.

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