❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs regarding the Stolen Wages Reparation Scheme application of Mr. Button Jones, a former station worker, and seeks evidence of how state investments have benefited him. The Minister denies establishing a scheme for station workers and cites expenditure reports.
AnsweredQoN 1511Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Regarding the Stolen Wages Reparation Scheme application of Mr Button Jones, I ask: (a) will the Minister establish a stolen wages reparation scheme to consider the claims of former station workers like Mr Button Jones, who were moved about from station to station at the behest of government officials and pastoralists and received no wages for their efforts: (i) if no to (a), why not; and (b) as the Minister has previously stated that "the State Government invests heavily in measures to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people,
these investments, are to a large degree, based on recognition that the disadvantage experienced by
many Aboriginal people is a result of discriminatory legislation and policy that existed during the
period 1905 to 1972", will the Minister please provide evidence of exactly how State government investments have benefited Mr Jones: (i) if no to (b), why not; and (ii) if no to (b), will the Minister investigate Mr Jones' circumstances in order to provide how State government investments have benefited him?
these investments, are to a large degree, based on recognition that the disadvantage experienced by
many Aboriginal people is a result of discriminatory legislation and policy that existed during the
period 1905 to 1972", will the Minister please provide evidence of exactly how State government investments have benefited Mr Jones: (i) if no to (b), why not; and (ii) if no to (b), will the Minister investigate Mr Jones' circumstances in order to provide how State government investments have benefited him?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 October 2014
Responded by
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Response time
35 days
(a) No.
(i) The State Government's response to the issue of stolen wages was largely based on advice from the Stolen Wages Taskforce, which found that station workers' incomes were not controlled directly by Government and consequently, fall outside the scope of the Scheme. It should be noted that application to the Scheme does not affect the legal rights of any applicant that may choose to pursue other courses of action.
(b) The Productivity Commission's 2012 Indigenous Expenditure Report indicates that in 2010-2011 Aboriginal expenditure by the State Government was around $2.3 billion, representing around 10.5 per cent of total expenditure. Aboriginal expenditure per person was $30,074 (second highest after the Northern Territory Government) - 3.36 times more than for non-Aboriginal persons (the highest ratio of all State/Territory Governments)..
(i) Not applicable
(ii) Not applicable
(i) The State Government's response to the issue of stolen wages was largely based on advice from the Stolen Wages Taskforce, which found that station workers' incomes were not controlled directly by Government and consequently, fall outside the scope of the Scheme. It should be noted that application to the Scheme does not affect the legal rights of any applicant that may choose to pursue other courses of action.
(b) The Productivity Commission's 2012 Indigenous Expenditure Report indicates that in 2010-2011 Aboriginal expenditure by the State Government was around $2.3 billion, representing around 10.5 per cent of total expenditure. Aboriginal expenditure per person was $30,074 (second highest after the Northern Territory Government) - 3.36 times more than for non-Aboriginal persons (the highest ratio of all State/Territory Governments)..
(i) Not applicable
(ii) Not applicable
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