Truth-telling supports stronger relationships and mutual respect through shared understandings of Australia's past and how it shapes the present. Truth-telling is fundamental to historical acceptance, one of the five dimensions of reconciliation in which attitudes towards reconciliation are measured by the Australian Reconciliation Barometer. 

This snapshot provides an overview of the attitudes to truth-telling and historical acceptance. Truth-telling covers a range of activities that enable a fuller and more accurate account of Australia’s history. This can include inquiries, commissions, apologies, reviews of institutional policies and practices, or more local level events, publications, renaming, signage, statues and public art. 

Key findings

• Strong support for truth-telling is evident across all states and territories with 71% of non-Indigenous people believing it to be an important element for progressing reconciliation (81% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples).
• 14% of 18- to 24-year-old non-Indigenous people and 21% of 25- to 34-year-olds have participated in a local truth-telling activity in the past year (9% of non-Indigenous people of all ages).
• 60% of non-Indigenous people believe they have a high level of knowledge about Australia’s colonial history (73% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples).