Shine Lawyers have launched a class action on behalf of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory whose wages were withheld or not paid under the wage control legislation in effect until 1971 and in Western Australia up until 1972.
Registrations are still being accepted for both the Northern Territory and Western Australia to make a claim for compensation.
Shine Lawyers Practice Leader Sarah Thomson says it’s important to register for a claim even if uncertain. In this interview with Kirstyn Lindsay, she explains who can apply for the Western Australia settlement.
You can apply for a claim If a family member or spouse who has passed away worked in WA & the NT within the time frame that the class action is registered for.
Support for your application will be provided.
First Nations families are also being encouraged to register their application for membership to the First Nations Child Removals Class Action Investigation by Shine Lawyers after a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission was filed in the Federal Court of Australia.
Shine lawyers report that allegations has been made that the Department of Child Protection have been engaging in unlawful discrimination and is being investigated due to the number of First Nations children in the child protection system and the failure to reunify Children with their families by the Department of Children’s Services in New South Wales, Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia on or after March 5th, 1992.
Special Counsel Lawyer Caitlin Wilson speaking on First Nations Child Removals Class Action Investigation.
In this interview with CAAMA Radio, Special Counsel Lawyer Caitlin Wilson says they are seeking justice because of the advocacy work of organisations and families over the years, and this is the first step to addressing a national problem of a modern-day Stolen Generation, she says the vision for the class action alongside financial compensation for families is to change the course of legislation across Australia.
There are three classes of people eligible to register their interest in the Class Action.
*People who as Children were removed from their parents or carers by the department and placed into state carer with a non-indigenous carer or not reunified with their family (Parents include cultural parents or carers for this criteria)
*The second group is cultural parents or carers who have had a child removed from their care by the department and placed in state care or with a non-Indigenous family.
*First Nations people who were nominated to care for a child and were not assessed by the department or their application was rejected or refused.
Caitlin says the last two groups are important for the class action not only because of the cultural obligation they have to care for their kin but because we constantly hear from the department in defence of why the Aboriginal child placement principals are not being complied with because there are no First Nations carers that come forward and the Legal service don’t think that this the case.
If you or someone you know has been impacted by the removal of a First Nations child by government child protection agencies in New South Wales, Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia on or after March 5th, 1992, you are encouraged to register with Shine Lawyers. www.shine.com.au or 1800 316 428