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Aboriginal wages scheme to reconsider rejected claims

8 April 2009 - IT WILL be easier for thousands of people to win back millions in wages "stolen" from them while working under Aboriginal protection acts a generation ago after NSW agreed to review cases.

In the final days of the Aboriginal Trust Fund Repayment Scheme it was decided to extend the program until June 30, 2010, though applications for compensation must be received by May 31 this year.

Under the extension, all applications rejected so far will be reviewed, claims with no records will be rechecked and any payment of less than $11,000 will be topped up to that amount. Oral and non-documentary evidence will now be allowed.

The changes follow a report to cabinet by the members of the scheme's panel, chaired by the former senator Aden Ridgeway. The Government has refused to make the report public. It is understood to be critical that just over $1 million of an estimated $70 million debt had been paid.

Lawyers for claimants say 60 per cent of claims have been rejected because much of the evidence, held by government agencies, was lost.

Joel Gibson

Source: SMH

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