WA Government Settles Stolen Wages Class Action, Thousands of Aboriginal Workers to Receive Compensation

The Western Australian Government has reached a settlement in a class action over Stolen Wages, bringing compensation to thousands of Aboriginal Australians who were systematically underpaid or not paid at all for their work between 1936 and 1972. The legal action, launched by Aboriginal elder Mervyn Street in 2020, challenged decades of discriminatory legislation that allowed employers to pay Aboriginal workers little or no wages. The settlement marks a significant step toward rectifying a painful chapter in the state’s history, acknowledging the exploitation of Aboriginal labour under laws that controlled wages and working conditions. Details of the compensation package are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, with claimants including surviving workers and their families. The case has drawn national attention to the ongoing legacy of colonial policies that stripped Aboriginal people of their earnings and dignity.

Article source: hallscreekherald.com | Image credit: Halls Creek Herald – Digital