Jim McIlroy, Brisbane
The Stolen Wages Campaign Working Group has criticised the Queensland government's limitation on resources to pursue claims for "stolen wages" for Aboriginal workers, who had wages withheld or absorbed into state revenue for many decades until the 1980s.
SWCWG spokesperson Vincent Mundraby said on January 20 the reparation payments were unfairly capped, failed to include the work of now-dead Aborigines and were difficult to obtain for many without resources to prove the claim.
In May 2002, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie's Labor government announced that a maximum of $55.4 million would be available for the estimated 16,000 claimants. Individual claims are capped at $4000, and former Aboriginal workers have until December to make their claim.
Mundraby said widespread legal action was possible if the government did not make changes to the scheme.
The SWCWG held a joint media conference with the Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) on January 21 to call for government backing in the state budget for regional forums to help resolve stolen wages issues, as previously promised by state Aboriginal affairs minister Liddy Clark.
Working group member, claimant and Aboriginal elder Aunty Ruth Hegarty said: "We know there are many people out there who are dissatisfied with what's been offered and we know there's a lot more people out there who feel they have got a claim against the state for the wages and savings which were taken from them and their families.
"All we're asking for is that the government take our concerns on board and go out to the community again to hear what they have to say about how this matter can be finally put to rest."
QCU assistant general secretary Chris Barrett said: "QCU strongly supports the stolen wages budget submission and calls on the government to implement these measures and work with Indigenous communities towards a just solution to this issue."
From Green Left Weekly, January 26, 2005.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.