Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk signed a formal pledge on Tuesday to set a truth-telling inquiry within 18 months as recommended by the state's Treaty Advancement Committee.

She says the inquiry will help all Queenslanders understand their history, so they can move forward together.

"We are on the path to understand our past and acknowledge that in some parts our history is hard, but we can't let the past prevent us from building a better future," Ms Palaszczuk said in a speech at the signing ceremony at parliament.

"This is our chance to mark the end of one chapter of this story and begin another, not as an act of government, but as the will of the people."

Treaty Advancement Committee co-chair Mick Gooda said it will be difficult for those involved to share stories about children being removed, being dispossessed of land and the ongoing impacts of colonisation.

However, he believes the inquiry will help lift the burden of shame about the history from all Queenslanders.

"As a matter of fact, I'm of the view that the truth will liberate white people, non-Indigenous people, more than it will liberate us," Mr Gooda said.

"Once you put the truth out there it will free people up from the shame of the past that I just really think affects people, so it's really important to try and get it out there."

An interim body of Indigenous and non-Indigenous representatives will promote truth-telling in institutions such as public libraries, museums, archives and art galleries.

The government has also pledged to pass laws to set up a First Nations Institute to draft a legal framework for treaty negotiations.

A Path to Treaty office will be set up within government to prepare for treaty talks once that framework has been finalised.

The government is open to signing either a single treaty, or individual treaties with different Indigenous groups.

Treaty Advancement Committee co-chair Dr Jackie Huggins said the path to treaty was a moment of solidarity, and a step towards reconciliation and nation-building.

"When First Peoples heal and prosper, we all do," she said.

Queensland is among a number of states working towards Indigenous treaty negotiations.

Victoria passed laws to set up a treaty oversight committee on Tuesday, and the ACT and the Northern Territory are making progress.

South Australia had been working towards a treaty, but efforts stalled under the former Liberal state government.

NSW, Western Australia and Tasmania are not currently working towards a treaty agreement.

The federal government is also planning a referendum on a constitutionally enshrined First Nations voice to parliament in its first term.

The Greens are pushing for a truth-telling commission to support Labor's plans, but the government says its priority is to introduce the Voice.

Australian Associated Press