The Queensland Government says it is committed to the development of a First Nations treaty.

The state says it will undertake a three-year Indigenous truth-telling inquiry on its path towards a treaty with First Nations people.

The government will spend about $10 million per year for the duration of the treaty process. It is intended to create treaties signed and negotiated agreement between First Nations peoples and the Queensland government. As part of this, the state is funding the formation of an independent First Nations Treaty Institute, with the responsibility for developing a treaty-making framework for agreement with the government.

The Palaszczuk government this week announced it will hold a regional cabinet meeting on Thursday Island, along with public servants from 37 state and federal agencies.

In addresses this week, the state government congratulated itself for improving the lives of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, but did not mention the housing crisis in many of the state’s Indigenous communities, including Thursday Island. 

Thursday Island and the Torres Strait and Northern Cape region have a homeless rate of 376 per 10,000 residents - about eight times the Queensland average.

Multiple families occupy 10 per cent of Indigenous households, and only 7 per cent of Thursday Island residents own their own homes. Crowded housing is one factor behind Indigenous communities having the highest rate of rheumatic heart disease.

Government data shows just five new houses were approved in the Torres Strait region in the 12 months to 30 June this year.

It is expected that Ms Palaszczuk and her ministers will be forced to confront housing shortages and related health issues when the government holds its first regional cabinet meeting on Thursday Island on 6 September.

“This is a great opportunity for the community and local government leaders to share ideas, priorities, challenges and opportunities,” Ms Palasczuk said this week.

“Whether it’s access to services, opportunities for job creation, Path to Treaty, native title, housing or environmental matters, my Cabinet wants to hear about those issues.

“From justice, equality and opportunity, health care, housing, education, water security, tourism, roads — my government’s commitment to this region is clear,” she said.