Australian state legislation from the late 1800s established government control of the lives of many Indigenous Australians, including control of financial earnings and entitlements.
What this meant in practice is that a large percentage of the wages, federal child endowment and related welfare payments that were made to Aboriginal people in Queensland over many decades was put aside into government run trust accounts and other accounts.
Only a fraction of it was ever paid to the individuals who were legally entitled to those wages and payments. It is estimated that up to 60% of workers' wages went into a general trust account, 10% went into the Aborigines Welfare Fund and with approximately 30% (including taxation) given to Indigenous people as 'pocket money'.
The Government responded to this issue in 2002 by establishing the Indigenous Wages and Savings Reparations Project. This provides eligible claimants with a lump sum of $2000 or $4000, plus an apology in Parliament. In order to receive the payment, individuals have to relinquish any legal rights they may have under the various 'protection' acts in place in Queensland between 1897 and 1984.
The Democrats are calling on all State and Territory institutions and individuals who are committed to justice and reconciliation to publicly condemn the injustices imposed through the stolen wages.
Reparations and acknowledgement must be made to all Indigenous people and their descendents who have been deprived of their rightfully earned wages and entitlements.
For more on the details and a state-by-state picture of what is one of Australia's great workplace scandals please visit Senator Bartlett's website.
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MEDIA: Bartlett Tables Stolen Generation Compensation Bill - Senator Andrew Bartlett, 28 March 2007
SPEECH: Exposure Draft of Stolen Generation Bill - Senator Andrew Bartlett, 28 March 2007
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