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Invasion Day rally demands `repay stolen wages'

4 February 2004 - BRISBANE — The demand to repay the stolen wages of Aborigines who worked under successive Queensland governments from the 1890s to the 1970s was the central focus of this year’s Invasion Day rally, held at Emma Miller Place (Roma Street Forum) on January 26.

Around 300 people rallied and later marched to Musgrave Park for a Murri festival. Chairperson Sam Watson welcomed the crowd and urged continued struggle for the rights of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.

Aboriginal elders from the region, including Bob Weatherall from the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action, condemned the Queensland Labor government for its lack of action on Murri rights. Auntie Ruth called on young Murris to “get political”.

Adrian Skerritt, Socialist Alliance candidate for Inala in the Queensland state election, described the state government’s settlement offer to Aboriginal workers as “insulting”. He condemned the Howard government’s attempt to re-write the history of Black dispossession and genocide.

Lynda Hansen, Socialist Alliance candidate for South Brisbane, said the stolen wages were “slave wages, until they are repaid in full”. She discussed homelessness among Aboriginal people in inner-suburban Brisbane, and urged support for the rally to evict South Brisbane ALP MP Anna Bligh and turn her electoral office over to local homeless people on January 31.

Adrian McAvoy, an independent Aboriginal candidate for Brisbane central, spoke on his campaign to highlight the issue of stolen wages and Murri rights in Premier Peter Beattie's seat of Brisbane Central.

Source: Green Left Weekly

Further information: stolen wages issues page - includes news index and external links

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