The Australian Government has agreed to pay up to $202 million (US$136 million) in compensation to Indigenous workers in the Northern Territory (NT) who had their wages stolen during the 20th century.
This settlement is the result of a class action filed on behalf of workers and their families who were affected by Commonwealth wage control laws from 1933 to 1971.
Last year, the Western Australian government settled a similar case for $165 million (US$111 million), while in 2019, a class action against the Queensland government resulted in $190 million (US$128 million) in compensation.
Minnie McDonald, the lead applicant in the NT case, recalls working on stations from a young age and emphasized that the class action was seeking justice for all those who were never paid.
McDonald shared, “We had to survive on bush tucker and a bit of bread. Many of the people we worked with are no longer with us.”
Indigenous Australians minister Malarndirri McCarthy expressed hope that this settlement would provide closure to First Nations people affected by the historical wage control legislation.
She stated, “This is a significant step towards addressing the injustices of the past, and I commend Minnie McDonald and all First Nations individuals involved in this class action for seeking redress and healing.”
The government has also committed to covering legal expenses and administrative costs associated with the settlement.
Approval from the Federal Court is required for the settlement to proceed, and eligible workers and their families must register to receive compensation.
Shine Lawyers, the legal representatives for McDonald during the class action, plan to conduct an outreach program in the NT to facilitate registration.
Lawyer Sarah Thompson expressed gratitude to McDonald and other witnesses for sharing their stories during the legal proceedings.
Thompson stated, “Today marks progress for the countless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals we represent in the Northern Territory. While this settlement cannot undo the past, it acknowledges the hardships faced by these workers and their descendants due to decades of unfair wage control legislation.”
