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Historic Reparation Offer To Indigenous Queenslanders To Proceed

Premier & Trade
The Hon. Peter Beattie MP

20 November 2002 - The Beattie Government's historic offer of reparation to Indigenous Queenslanders who had their wages and savings controlled by former Queensland governments has been approved by State Cabinet and will now proceed.

Premier Peter Beattie and the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy Judy Spence today confirmed the offer, which was made by the government on May 9, 2002 and subject to state-wide consultation.

They said the Government's offer includes; payments to individuals totalling $55.4 million, a written apology to all living persons eligible to make a claim, parliamentary acknowledgment, and the introduction of new protocols for the acknowledgment of traditional owners.

The distribution of the Aborigines Welfare Fund, frozen in 1993 and currently $8.6 million, will be progressed as a separate issue next year.

Distribution will not involve individual reparations and may include the development of an oral histories collection or other projects that acknowledge the contributions to Queensland of Indigenous workers.

The Premier said that while similar unjust practices of wages and savings control had existed throughout Australia, Queensland was the first state to make a formal offer of reparations.

"We have made this offer in the spirit of reconciliation, to acknowledge the injustices of the past and ease the resulting pain that has been suffered by Indigenous Queenslanders," he said.

Ms Spence said to be eligible claimants must have been alive on May 9, 2002.

Claimants must also fall into one of two groups.

Group A Claimants include people who were born on or before 31st December 1951, who were affected by the controls exercised under the Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Acts 1897 and/or the Aboriginals Preservation and Protection Act 1939 or the Torres Strait Islanders Act 1939.

These claimants will be eligible for individual reparations payments of $4,000.

Group B Claimants include people who were born between 1st January 1952 and 31st December 1956, who were affected by controls exercised under the 1939 Acts and/or the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islander's Affairs Act 1965 and are not included in Group A.

These claimants will be eligible for individual reparations payments of $2,000.

Ms Spence said the government expected that more than 16,000 people could be eligible.

"There has been a great deal of community concern and discussion about the offer and associated consultation, but the government believes that it is important to move quickly now to ensure eligible people receive their money," she said.

"I urge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to consider their own eligibility for reparation and to spread the word about this offer."

Reparations payments will be subject to claimants signing an agreement indemnifying the Queensland Government against common law or other legal actions arising from the exercise of the controls, which may otherwise be available.

People do not have to accept the offer and the Queensland Government will pay for the provision of independent legal advice to every individual, before they sign the agreement.

Ms Spence said the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy was now making administrative arrangements for the receipt and processing of claims and delivery of reparation payments to eligible applicants.

"Official claim forms will be available from departmental regional offices from 1st February, 2003," she said.

"We will ensure the claim process is as simple and efficient as possible and the claims of older people or people who are seriously ill will be prioritised," she said.

Media Contacts: Premier's Office 07 3224 4500, Minister's Office 07 3224 7081

Source: Queensland Ministerial Media Statements

Beattie sits on blacks' payout

By Ashleigh Wilson

12 November 2002 - The Queensland Government has delayed a decision on a $55 million compensation package for Aborigines whose wages were lost or stolen.

Premier Peter Beattie said state cabinet had discussed the issue yesterday, but no decision had been made.

This was despite Mr Beattie's claim that the compensation offer was final.

The $55.4 million payment would provide compensation of up to $4000 each to 16,400 Aborigines whose wages were controlled by the government between the 1890s and 1972.

The figure was last week criticised as "insultingly low'' by Aboriginal Social Justice Commissioner Bill Jonas, who said only 10 per cent of people eligible for the payment had been consulted.

Mr Beattie yesterday rejected that claim, saying consultations had been adequate.

"We have consulted, and consulted and consulted to death,'' Mr Beattie said.

"We've got a million people who want to express their view, and they're all entitled to do it, but somewhere along the line you've got to make a decision. There are senior indigenous people who are dying and I have got to the stage where I am sick of the games. I'm going to ensure that indigenous people get their money.''

The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Legal Services Secretariat was commissioned by the Government to consult indigenous communities around the state before an August deadline for the offer.

QAILSS reported that 96 per cent of people surveyed were in favour of the deal, but project officer Vern Hopkins said yesterday more time was needed to contact everyone and to explain the issues properly.

"You just can't rush in and rush out,'' Mr Hopkins said.

"We certainly would have liked more time, but we weren't allowed that luxury because of the timeframe the Government gave us.''

Mr Hopkins said no pressure was put on the indigenous people to accept the offer.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission deputy chairman Ray Robinson said indigenous communities were keen to get their money.

"There's been plenty of consultation,'' he said.

Source: The Australian

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