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'Stolen wage' case sparks court protest

Tony Keim

6 February 2004 - Relatives of a leading Aboriginal boxer of the 1940s and 50s will find out next week if they can sue the State Government for $18 million in allegedly "stolen wages".

Supreme Court of Queensland Justice Margaret White yesterday heard submissions on whether the case involving descendants of boxing great Elley Bennett should go to civil trial and reserved her judgment until Monday.

The case was backed yesterday with a protest in the Supreme and District Court complex courtyard by Lyle Semp, a long-time campaigner for the return of wild brumbies to Stradbroke Island.

Mr Semp's brumby "Blue" stood vigil in the courtyard yesterday morning sporting a sandwich board sign demanding justice for the estate of Mr Bennett.

"To (Premier Peter) Beattie – return stolen horses to Fraser Island. Pay out stolen wages of Elley Bennett. Honour your reconciliation promise", the sign read.

Elley Bennett's descendants last year filed a writ against the Queensland Public Trustee and State Government claiming more than $18 million.

The figure was reached on an assessment of the £12,000 they said Bennett earned – at current monetary value – as well as interest for up to 55 years.

The Courier-Mail first highlighted the mystery of Bennett's missing money in 1991.

His cousin, John Dalungdalee Jones, spent years putting together an 83-page claim on behalf of the beneficiaries of Bennett's estate, but said the court action had far wider ramifications for thousands of other Queensland Aborigines.

Mr Jones said the Bennett case would be a landmark case for others wanting inheritances for work performed by their relatives.

He claimed millions of dollars was owed to the descendants of Aborigines whose pay was put into the Aborigines Welfare Fund.

Most of the money earned by Queensland Aborigines from 1884, including Bennett's winnings, was paid into the fund.

There are no records to show if Bennett received any of his prizemoney after he retired.

Source: The Courier-Mail

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