From about 1890 to 1985, state and federal governments in Australia did not pay the wages and entitlements of the Aboriginal people who were under their control. During this period, most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were controlled by various ‘Protection’ Acts. These gave the governments almost unlimited rights to control their lives.

Many governments organised work contracts, at significantly lower wages, for Aboriginal people. Apart from a very small amount of ‘pocket money’ which was often not paid, the wages were sent to the relevant Department, such as the Qld Department of Native Affairs, who managed the money ‘for the benefit of the wage earners’.

Research in government archives in Queensland and then in NSW and other states, shows that the governments generally did not manage the money justly and that fraud, mismanagement, and application of the accumulated money for the benefit of government’s political interest were the norm.

These missing monies, which includes wages and state and commonwealth entitlements such as maternity benefits, invalid and widows’ are generally known as "stolen wages".

Take action

In Queensland, ANTaR Queensland and the Queensland Council of Unions have been strong supporters of Stolen Wages claimants.

Current activites centre around recent Queensland Government decision to cap the amount to be paid to any claimant at $7,000 for older people and $3,500 for younger people. This would leave approximately $20,000 left over which the Government has decided to put in the Queensland Indigenous Fund, which will fund educational scholarships for young people.

These decisions are bitterly resented by claimants who consider that the inadequate 10% of their entitlements, $55 million offered in 2002, should all be distributed to claimants rather than have $20 million taken away again.

Sign a petition to the Queensland Parliament about stolen wages

Recent key reports

Report: Hard Labour, Stolen Wages

In August 2007, ANTaR launched Hard Labour, Stolen Wages (PDF 660k), our national report on stolen wages written by leading historian Dr Ros Kidd.

Report: Unfinished business - Indigenous stolen wages

In December 2006, the Senate Inquiry into stolen wages produced the report "Unfinished business - Indigenous stolen wages", which you can download from the Parliament of Australia's website. Alse see the Parliament of Australia's Senate Committee page for more information about this inquiry. Also see ANTaR's submission to the Inquiry (PDF 248k).

All things considered — a range of opinions

To give you a complete picture about Stolen Wages, here's a range of perspectives. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of ANTaR, but we think they should be considered and thoughtfully debated.

• State Government's dodgy deal - The Courier Mail, 30 November 2008
• Anna Bligh reopens indigenous stolen wages scheme - The Courier Mail, 18 August 2008
• Why Aborigines in Queensland want their wages back - ANTaR Queensland article, April 2008
• QLD Government insults Aboriginal workers again - ANTaR media release, 25 March 2008
• Give us back our money - Sydney Morning Herald, 15 December 2007
• Stolen indigenous wages unclaimed - Brisbane Times, 5 September 2007
• Stolen wages a major barrier to reconciliation - Gary Highland's opinion piece in The Age, 30 August 2007
• Committees report - Unfinished business: Indigenous stolen wages - Senator Andrew Bartlett's speech to the Senate Committee's report Unfinished business: Indigenous stolen wages, 1 March 2007
• Senate Inquiry urges action on Indigenous stolen wages - ANTaR media release, 12 December 2006

Should governments pay wages withheld from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in today's value ... and why?

We encourage considered, respectful and where necessary provocative debate. Please feel welcome to have your say, and in turn allow others to have their say without responding in anger or distrust.

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