Stolen Wages
Stolen Wages - a campaign for justice
The National Tertiary Education Union (Queensland) is supporting a public campaign for justice for the generations of Aboriginal workers whose wages were stolen by the Queensland government.
Thousands of Aboriginal workers across several generations lost an estimated $500 million because of the Queensland Governments' negligence, through diverting withheld wages to raise government revenue, and through misuse of Trust monies.
The Beattie Government has made an offer of $55 million as settlement, but this is only a tiny fraction of the "stolen wages" and former workers have declared the offer inadequate.
Support Aboriginal workers' fight for justice
A postcard campaign has been launched with the aim of drawing Premier Beattie's attention to community outrage over stolen wages. You can obtain postcards from the Queensland Council of Unions (3846 2468), ANTaR Qld (3844 9800), FAIRA Aboriginal Corporation (3391 4677), and Radio 4AAA (3892 0100).
Also send letters to Queensland Premier The Hon Peter Beattie and/or The Hon J Spence Minister for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Policy both at PO Box 185 Albert Street Brisbane 4002.
The campaign around this issue is being directed by The Queensland coalition of indigenous organisations: FAIRA, ACC, GMAG and others. Contact the Coalition via Christine Howes at chowes@hotkey.net.au .
The campaign is supported by ANTar Qld, the Queensland Council of Unions and the Victorian Trades Hall Council.
Thanks to Christine Howes for the photo of Fred Edwards with the stolen wages postcards.
Further information:
| Aboriginal Welfare Fund | Dr Ros Kidd explains the Aboriginal Welfare Fund which operated as a Treasury Trust Fund from 1943 - 1993 "for the benefit of Aborigines generally". |
| Download postcards | Download the page of three stolen wages postcards to distribute and send in. |
| Interview with Lanora Jackson | Lanora Jackson talks about her father Henry's thirteen years of working without wages. Lanora is involved with the stolen wages campaign on behalf of her father and the thousands of Aboriginal workers like him. |
| Postcard campaign launched at rally | The stolen wages national postcard campaign aims to send a message to the Queensland government that their offer to settle Aboriginal workers' claims for stolen wages is vastly inadequate. |
| Queensland government rejects 1 in 4 stolen wages claims | An article published in The Australian says that the Queensland government has refused one in four claims for compensation for stolen wages. |
| Speech by Dr Ros Kidd | Speech delivered to the International Human Rights Day Symposium Centre for Public Culture and Ideas, Griffith University 10th December 2003. |
| Wrong decision by the wrong people | This Media Release of 12 December 2003 comments on the State Government's announcement that a foundation of "eminent Aboriginal Queenslanders" will be appointed to manage and distribute the Aborigines Welfare Fund. |