Lawyers for the Victorian Government hauled in front of the state's truth-telling inquiry have apologised for not complying with Yoorrook Justice Commission orders to produce evidence.
Georgia Coghlan, acting on behalf of the state government, acknowledged that her client had not met deadlines set by the Commission but said the sheer amount of work in a short amount of time had made it "practically impossible to achieve".
"It's not a lack of respect or commitment," Ms Coghlan told the directions hearing on Monday.
"It is simply a sign of trying to produce, but not being able to."
Ms Coghlan sought extensions for all outstanding notices to produce, conceding the delays would affect the Commission's ability to provide an interim and final report on its own deadlines.
Acting on behalf of the Commission, counsel assisting Sarala Fitzgerald said the government had still not answered 178 questions asked of them on February 12.
A document provided by the Department of Justice also did not answer 71 questions.
Ms Fitzgerald said the delays caused by the government placed future hearings in jeopardy.
Senior bureaucrats had been scheduled to give evidence to Yoorrook during a full week of hearings commencing Monday as part of the inquiry into injustices experienced by Aboriginal people in Victoria's criminal and child protection systems.
Yoorrook is the first formal truth telling inquiry into past and ongoing injustice against First Peoples in Victoria as p[art of the state's path to treaty.
Established with royal commission powers, Yoorrook can compel people to produce documents and to attend hearings and give evidence.
It is a criminal offence to fail to comply with a notice to produce documents without a reasonable excuse.
The hearing continues.
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