❓ Question regarding the refusal of Mr. Wungundin's Stolen Wages Reparation Scheme application and broader reparations for Aboriginal people working on pastoral properties. The Minister acknowledges the application but declines to apologise or establish further reparations, citing the Scheme's scope and existing government actions.
AnsweredQoN 796Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to the application by Mr Bruce Wungundin of Wyndham to the Stolen Wages Reparation Scheme, I ask: (a) is the Minister aware of Mr Wungundin's application, which was refused because Glenroy Station and Mt House are not institutions or facilities within the scope of the Reparation Scheme; (b) is the Minister further aware that Mr Wungundin also lived at Mornington Station while growing up, where he did not attend school, and that he was taken from there by the State Government's Department of Child Protection to Beagle Bay Mission where he received rations but no wages and that this matter is outstanding; (c) will the Minister apologise to Aboriginal people who worked on pastoral properties and had their wages withheld: (i) if no to (c), why not; and (ii) if yes to (c), when will this commence; and (d) will the Minister establish arrangements, in consultation with Aboriginal people, to provide financial reparations to people whose land had been taken from them and who had no option but to work without wages: (i) if no to (d), why not; and (ii) if yes to (d), when will this commence?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 April 2014
Responded by
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Response time
28 days
(a) Yes.
(b) I am aware of the statements made by Mr Wungundin in his application to the Stolen Wages Reparation Scheme. I am advised by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs that all recent queries by Mr Wungundin have been addressed. There is a final option for review to the Ombudsman in accordance with the
Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1971
(WA), as noted in the Scheme guidelines.
(c) 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.
ii. Not applicable.
(d) No.
i. These matters are already being progressed by the State Government.
ii. Not applicable.
(b) I am aware of the statements made by Mr Wungundin in his application to the Stolen Wages Reparation Scheme. I am advised by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs that all recent queries by Mr Wungundin have been addressed. There is a final option for review to the Ombudsman in accordance with the
Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1971
(WA), as noted in the Scheme guidelines.
(c) 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.
ii. Not applicable.
(d) No.
i. These matters are already being progressed by the State Government.
ii. Not applicable.
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