(Photo: HRC)
May 26, 2016
The State Government has announced the closure of the controversial Aborigines Welfare Fund, a part of the system of stolen wages and savings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders for more than 70 years
Treasurer Mr Curtis Pitt signed the Aborigines Welfare Fund Closure document with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda in Parliament on Thursday.
“The Palaszczuk Government has responded to the Stolen Wages Reparations Taskforce’s call for the closure of the Fund, as a definitive gesture of reconciliation to finalise this chapter of Queensland’s past, as we look towards a more inclusive future for all Queenslanders,” Mr Pitt said.
“The decision to close the Aborigines Welfare Fund represents a significant milestone in Queensland’s history and is an important act of reconciliation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders and their families whose wages or savings were stolen by past governments.
“As I have said before, no amount of money can repair the injustices of the past and to move forward, it is important for Queensland to right this historical wrong.”
The decision to close the fund was one of the key outcomes announced in the Queensland Government’s response to the “Reconciling Past Injustice” report of the Stolen Wages Reparations Taskforce Report released on Thursday.
The Treasurer also confirmed the State Government’s intention to publicly acknowledge the financial contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples towards the development of key Queensland infrastructure.
“Historical records show the wages and savings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were regularly used by past governments to fund major infrastructure, including the building and expansion of some of Queensland’s major hospitals,” Mr Pitt said.
“We support the Taskforce recommendation that there be monuments, plaques and other lasting forms of appropriate public acknowledgement, to highlight the use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders’ stolen wages in helping to build this State.
“We look forward to working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders and local communities to establish an appropriately respectful reflection of their contributions to the growth of Queensland.”
Social Justice Commissioner and Taskforce chairman Mick Gooda welcomed the announcement, saying the closure of the Fund would help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders put this inexcusable wrong behind them.
“Recent discussions about the new Reparations Scheme have been the catalyst for many difficult and distressing conversations, stirring unsettling memories for many people,” Mr Gooda said.
“The Taskforce has recommended the remaining Welfare Fund monies go towards acts of reconciliation including dedicated memorials recognising the contribution of stolen wages which were used to develop the state’s infrastructure, and scholarships to document the history of stolen wages in Queensland from the perspective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
Mr Pitt said the State Government had agreed to other key recommendations of the Taskforce report including:
- Establishing a Reparations Review Panel to enable consideration of previously ineligible applications, to ensure as many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders as possible have access to the Reparation Scheme, to seek justice for past wrongs; and
- Funding a scholarship program for an Aboriginal person and a Torres Strait Islander person to document the experiences and perspectives of government control of wages and savings under the Protections Acts, for their respective cultures.
For more information about the Stolen Wages and Savings Reparations Scheme and to view a copy of the Queensland Government’s response to the Reconciling Past Injustice report of the Stolen Wages Reparations Taskforce, and the Queensland Stolen Wages Reparations Taskforce Report “Reconciling Past Injustice”, free call 1800-619-505.
- External link: Reparations Scheme
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