Library adds Yoorrook Justice Commission report to collection

STATE Member for Geelong Christine Couzens has delivered a copy of The Truth Be Told – Yoorrook Justice Commission Report to the Bannockburn Library, ensuring the community has access to a significant document about Victoria’s history.

The Truth Be Told documents the findings of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, Australia’s first formal truth-telling process into the injustices experienced by First Peoples.

The report brings together testimonies, lived experiences and history, detailing the ongoing impacts of colonisation across Victoria.

“As the Member for Geelong, it was an honour to deliver [the report] to the Bannockburn Library,” Ms Couzens said.

“This book holds the voices that Australia must keep listening to.

“This is more than a book drop-off, it’s a commitment to truth, accountability, and a future shaped by honesty.

“Bannockburn Library now holds a piece of our shared history.

“Ensuring The Truth Be Told is accessible in Bannockburn means our community can continue learning directly from First Peoples’ experiences, not from distance or hearsay.”

Ms Couzens said that while the commission heard from many elders, families and survivors, some people never had the opportunity to give their evidence before dying.

“Their stories, experiences, and truths remain an unspoken part of the state’s history, a reminder of why this work must continue with urgency and respect,” she said.

“Making this report available in Bannockburn ensures that our community can learn directly from the voices that were able to be heard and remember those who were not.

“This book belongs in every community that values honesty, understanding, and a more just future.

“Truth-telling belongs on the shelves of every community.

“I’m proud to help make sure Bannockburn has the opportunity to read, reflect, and grow.”

Ms Couzens encouraged residents to visit the Bannockburn Library to engage with the report and reflect on its stories and its calls to action.

“The journey toward justice begins with honest stories,” she said.

“Delivering this book to the Bannockburn Library helps place those stories in the hands of everyone who seeks to understand.”