Queensland’s human rights commissioner has blasted the state government’s “hostile”, “assimilationist” approach to First Nations people in a speech at Parliament House.Scott McDougall, Queensland’s first-ever human rights commissioner, has consistently criticised both sides of politics over a range of issues, particularly the state’s youth law and order crackdown. His seven-year term in the role comes to an end next month.In Monday night’s speech, McDougall took particular aim at the Liberal National party government’s strained relations with the traditional owners.
“In Queensland, we are not walking together towards reconciliation – our non-Indigenous leaders are walking us backwards,” he said.McDougall also pointed to the LNP’s headline adult crime, adult time laws, which the government admits will have a disproportionate effect on Indigenous children and violate the state’s Human Rights Act.