Published Tuesday, 12 August, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Minister for Communities, Disability Services, ATSIP, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
Queensland’s stolen wages fund reopened: Nelson-Carr
The Bligh Government will reopen the Indigenous Wages and Savings Reparations Scheme to give more Indigenous Queenslanders the opportunity for a reparation payment for their treatment under ‘control’ regimes administered by former governments.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said the government was determined to acknowledge past injustices.
“This is about acknowledging the facts and the consequences for those Indigenous Queenslanders whose wages and savings were controlled under previous government schemes which operated for many decades right up until the early 1970s,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“We are reopening the scheme to give more eligible claimants the chance to apply for a payment.
“The new round now gives people who may have been eligible for previous funding rounds but chose not to apply, or who were not aware of the scheme, the chance to receive a payment.
“I encourage people who were eligible for first and second round payments but chose not to apply – as well as those who weren’t aware of the scheme or whose applications were received after the closing date of January 2006 – to now take part.
“New closing dates of January 2009 for Australian residents and April 2009 for eligible residents of Papua New Guinea will now apply.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said about $19.5 million has already been paid to 5553 eligible claimants as part of the first reparation payment, and a second payment to those already found eligible is now underway, with priority given to elderly or seriously ill people.
New eligible claimants will receive the first and second round payments combined, with offers of $3,500 or $7,000 depending on when claimants were born.
The eligibility criteria for new reparations claims remain unchanged – claimants must have been born before 31 December 1956, still living on 9 May 2002 and must have been subject to government controls over their wages and savings.
The remaining funds from the scheme will be paid into the Indigenous Queenslanders Foundation which will provide scholarships and bursaries for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.
Ms Nelson-Carr said the latest payments from the Wages and Savings Reparations Scheme were an acknowledgement of the injustices and the associated harm of previous state government policies.
“Queensland was the first jurisdiction in Australia to offer reparation for past injustices concerning wage and savings control and to make a Parliamentary apology.
“This is about righting the wrongs of our history – those previous policies of governments in this state left a lasting and bitter impression on all Indigenous Queenslanders who suffered under the ‘Protection Acts’.
“It’s also a significant step forward in this government’s determined effort to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and our focus on ensuring Indigenous Queenslanders have the same prospects as all Queenslanders.”
Anyone who believes they may be eligible for a payment under the scheme is encouraged to contact 1800 809 097.
Staff operating the 1800 number are able to provide assistance to complete an application and can also help to locate necessary records.
Media Contact: Chris Taylor 0419 710 874
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said the government was determined to acknowledge past injustices.
“This is about acknowledging the facts and the consequences for those Indigenous Queenslanders whose wages and savings were controlled under previous government schemes which operated for many decades right up until the early 1970s,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“We are reopening the scheme to give more eligible claimants the chance to apply for a payment.
“The new round now gives people who may have been eligible for previous funding rounds but chose not to apply, or who were not aware of the scheme, the chance to receive a payment.
“I encourage people who were eligible for first and second round payments but chose not to apply – as well as those who weren’t aware of the scheme or whose applications were received after the closing date of January 2006 – to now take part.
“New closing dates of January 2009 for Australian residents and April 2009 for eligible residents of Papua New Guinea will now apply.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said about $19.5 million has already been paid to 5553 eligible claimants as part of the first reparation payment, and a second payment to those already found eligible is now underway, with priority given to elderly or seriously ill people.
New eligible claimants will receive the first and second round payments combined, with offers of $3,500 or $7,000 depending on when claimants were born.
The eligibility criteria for new reparations claims remain unchanged – claimants must have been born before 31 December 1956, still living on 9 May 2002 and must have been subject to government controls over their wages and savings.
The remaining funds from the scheme will be paid into the Indigenous Queenslanders Foundation which will provide scholarships and bursaries for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.
Ms Nelson-Carr said the latest payments from the Wages and Savings Reparations Scheme were an acknowledgement of the injustices and the associated harm of previous state government policies.
“Queensland was the first jurisdiction in Australia to offer reparation for past injustices concerning wage and savings control and to make a Parliamentary apology.
“This is about righting the wrongs of our history – those previous policies of governments in this state left a lasting and bitter impression on all Indigenous Queenslanders who suffered under the ‘Protection Acts’.
“It’s also a significant step forward in this government’s determined effort to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and our focus on ensuring Indigenous Queenslanders have the same prospects as all Queenslanders.”
Anyone who believes they may be eligible for a payment under the scheme is encouraged to contact 1800 809 097.
Staff operating the 1800 number are able to provide assistance to complete an application and can also help to locate necessary records.
Media Contact: Chris Taylor 0419 710 874