Premier Jacinta Allan has been told to live up to her words as she faces Victoria's Indigenous truth-telling inquiry.
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Ms Allan is giving evidence at the Yoorrook Justice Commission on Monday, the first time a premier has appeared before an Indigenous-led truth-telling commission.
Yoorrook chair Eleanor Bourke said the premier's evidence must lead to real change.
"Your words will live on the public record for generations to come," professor Bourke told the premier.
"When you leave here today, I ask you to live up to your words and actions.
"First Peoples have faced a long history of being let down by successive governments and their leaders.
"Broken promises, unfulfilled commitments and apologies followed by inertia."
In her opening statement, the premier declared the policies and practice of government had created the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Victorians.
"Whether ignorance or deliberate intent, we have driven that disparity," Ms Allan told the inquiry.
"And as the commission has noted, that disparity continues to play out in the lives and life outcomes for Aboriginal people."
Earlier, a welcome to country, smoking ceremony and traditional dancing took place outside Yoorrook's Collingwood headquarters to mark the occasion.
Following the inquiry's second interim report in 2023, the Victorian government has accepted 28 of 46 recommendations in full or in principle, is considering 15 more, and has rejected three outright.
The three rejected recommendations related to increasing the legal age of criminal liability to at least 14 and the minimum age of detention to 16, changing bail laws to reduce deaths in custody, and changes to the Charter of Human Rights.
Yoorrook is expected to deliver its final report by mid-2025.
Formal truth-telling processes have been held in more than 30 other countries including Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.
Australian Associated Press
