Contributors:

Indigenous Law Library

Indigenous Law Resources

[Databases] [Recent Additions] [Translate] [Add a Link] [Disclaimer]

WorldLII >> Categories >> Countries >> Australia >> By Subject >> Aboriginals & Torres Strait Islanders >> By Subject >> Stolen Wages

• Aboriginal Trust Fund Repayment Scheme: NSW Government [Search]
  For much of the 20th century, the NSW Government took money belonging to Aboriginal people and placed it in trust accounts for which it was legally responsible. Significant sums have never been repaid. This repayment scheme allows trust account holders or their descendants to lodge a claim for their own money, but all claims must be lodged before the end of 2008 (homepage on NSW Government website)
• Hard Labour, Stolen Wages: ANTaR's National Report on Stolen Wages (2007) [Search]
  Governments around Australia controlled wages, savings and benefits belonging to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for most of the 20th century. Much of the money held in trust was never paid to its owners. Trust account funds were transferred to public revenue, or disappeared through fraud or negligence along with many of the records. This report by Dr Ros Kidd is a comparative analysis of each state's trust fund operations (pdf on ANTaR website)
• Inquiry into Stolen Wages (2006) [Search]
  From the 1890s and even until the 1980s, Indigenous people were subjected to Protection Acts in mainland states and in the NT. Governments and “Protectors” controlled all aspects of Indigenous lives, including employment and payment of wages. Many people were forced to have their wages paid into trust accounts, which never returned the money (on Parliament of Australia website)
• Unfinished Business: Report of the Senate Inquiry into Stolen Wages (2006) [Search]
  Under “protectionist” policies from the 1890s and even until the 1980s, many Indigenous people were forced to have their wages paid into trust accounts which never returned the money. This report recommends granting access to archives and information, consultation by governments with Indigenous people and full compensation to be paid (on Parliament of Australia website)