❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs regarding the Stolen Wages Reparation Scheme, specifically concerning Bonnie Seela's case and the adequacy of the $2,000 payment. The Minister acknowledges the concerns and explains the basis for the payment and how Ms. Seela can access her application records.
AnsweredQoN 617Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Stolen Wages Reparation Scheme Western Australia, and I ask: (a) is the Minister aware of the request by Bonnie Seela of Ringers Soak community in the Kimberley for the Government to work with Aboriginal people in the Kimberley to review the scheme with a view to developing something fairer and more robust; (b) is the Minister aware of Ms Seela's claim that the amount of $2,000 is insufficient and unfair when taken against the number of years she spent working at Balgo Mission; and (c) can the Minister explain how the ex gratia payment amount of $2,000 for Ms Seela and others was arrived at, and explain how she can access the records that were used in the claims process?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 February 2014
Responded by
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Response time
89 days
(a) - (b) Yes.
(c) The State Government's response to the issue of stolen wages was largely based on advice from the Stolen Wages Taskforce which acknowledged that the lack of surviving records and the passage of time meant that it was not possible for the WA Government to identify and repay the actual amount of monies that were withheld. Therefore, the $2,000 ex gratia payment offered was not an attempt to repay wages that were withheld, but rather an acknowledgement that the practice of stolen wages did occur. Ms Seela was assessed as being eligible for the payment based on information provided in her application to the Scheme. Ms Seela can obtain a copy of her application by contacting Ms Lucy Gunn, Executive Director, Community Development at the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
(c) The State Government's response to the issue of stolen wages was largely based on advice from the Stolen Wages Taskforce which acknowledged that the lack of surviving records and the passage of time meant that it was not possible for the WA Government to identify and repay the actual amount of monies that were withheld. Therefore, the $2,000 ex gratia payment offered was not an attempt to repay wages that were withheld, but rather an acknowledgement that the practice of stolen wages did occur. Ms Seela was assessed as being eligible for the payment based on information provided in her application to the Scheme. Ms Seela can obtain a copy of her application by contacting Ms Lucy Gunn, Executive Director, Community Development at the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
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