The Yoorrook Justice Commission is making history as Australia’s first formal truth-telling inquiry, shedding light on a violent past long buried in the nation’s consciousness. Bridget Brennan, with the ABC’s Indigenous Affairs Team in collaboration with Four Corners, has been documenting the powerful testimonies presented to the groundbreaking commission in Victoria, which expose the deep and ongoing impact of massacres and human rights abuses which began when Australia was colonised. Among these stories is the harrowing account of the Warrigal Creek massacre, where, in 1843, dozens of Aboriginal people were shot dead by white settlers in retaliation for the killing of a pastoralist’s nephew. For Elizabeth Balderstone, the tragic history of Warrigal Creek is not just a historical account - it is a lived reality. She and Gunaikurnai elder Uncle Russell Mullett have come forward to share their story, bringing long-suppressed truths onto the public record. “If we are to have a future where we live together with understanding,” Uncle Russell said, “we must first be willing to know our history—and accept it.” The documentary witnesses the gruelling and deeply personal work of the Aboriginal truth commissioners, as they attempt to document the true history of Victoria. The team also follows along as the Commission investigates the catastrophic legacy of a former Prime Minister. Truth/Yoorrook is a fearless, definitive documentary which examines how we as a nation reckon with our colonial past and take critical steps towards truth, healing and justice. CHAPTERS 00:15 – Where ‘my people were murdered’ 00:55 – The violent invasion 02:30 – Truth telling commission, Yoorrook 05:20 – The investigation 06:25 - Challenges of today 07:05 – Fighting Gunditjmara 11:40 – Testimonies 12:24 – Understanding history 13:50 – Massacres 18:00 – Connection 21:20 – Segregation and the Stolen Generation 25:00 – Message to Australia 28:08 – Dark family history 32:37 – An apology 39:00 – Wealth return 40:40 – Broken promises 41:10 – Uncovering the truth #ABCNewsIndepth #ABCNewsAustralia
Four Corners is the home of Australian investigative journalism. We have been exposing scandals, triggering inquiries, firing debate and confronting taboos since 1961. We exist to serve the public interest and you. New Four Corners stories are published on Mondays: - Read the articles on the ABC News website and app. - Watch the documentaries on ABC iview, ABC TV and YouTube from 8.30pm. Find us and follow: - Download the ABC News app: abc.net.au/news/app - Subscribe to the Four Corners weekly newsletter: abc.net.au/news/subscribe - Add Four Corners to your Watchlist on ABC iview: iview.abc.net.au/show/four-corners - Add us to your favourites and subscribe on YouTube: Four Corners playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDTPrMoGHssDTF6wySxfL89TPt5LRezhz ABC News In-depth channel: youtube.com/@ABCNewsIndepth Follow Four Corners and ABC News on social media: - Facebook: facebook.com/abc4corners - Instagram: instagram.com/abcnews_au - TikTok: tiktok.com/@abcnewsaus - X: twitter.com/abcnews Find out more at the Four Corners website: abc.net.au/news/programs/4corners Contact us: abc.net.au/news/programs/4corners/contact This is an official Australian Broadcasting Corporation playlist.
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