STOLEN WAGES SETTLEMENT WELCOMED

BY GERARD MAZZA

An applicant in Western Australia’s stolen wages class action says he’s glad the matter has settled, but compensation payments should be extended further.

Around 14,000 First Nations people who worked on farms, cattle stations and in institutions from 1936 to 1972 were part of the class action, which was lodged with the Australian Human Rights Commission in 2020.

The case was due to go to trial last month, but a settlement was reached instead.

Shine Lawyers, who are representing the group who have taken the class action, announced on Tuesday the payments will be made to the workers or their surviving family.

Ballardong Noongar man and applicant Desmond Blurton helped Shine Lawyers gather evidence for the case.

He says he is happy with the result, but there is more that could have been done.

“This is a good, step but there’s a long way to go,” he said.

“There’s a long way to go to helping heal our people.

“It’s a good gesture, and I hope our Elders get it first. They should be first to be getting it because they are the ones who have suffered, and they’ve seen that from the colonial era.

“This government is only going from 1936 to 1972. They could have at least put it back a little bit more further because our people have been enslaved a lot longer than that.”

Premier Roger Cook said in a statement it was important to recognise past injustices and he hoped the agreement could lead to healing.

Listen to an interview with Desmond Blurton: