Shine Lawyers investigates class action over unpaid wages for indigenous Australians

Thousands of Indigenous Australians could be eligible to join a class action seeking lost wages held by the government in the 19th and 20th centuries. 

This investigation by leading Class Action law firm Shine Lawyers, on behalf of Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and New South Wales, has taken place over the course of the last two years. 

“In the 19th and 20th centuries, several indigenous Australians lost valuable income as a direct result of wage control legislation in effect at the time.” said the firm’s Head of Litigation & Loss Recovery, Jan Saddler. 

“These laws controlled the jobs and income of indigenous Australians across a number of states.” 

“This group of people worked difficult and laborious jobs to provide for their families. They were stockmen, farm hands, laundry assistants, kitchen hands, labourers and domestic workers and at the time, the government controlled their wages by holding them in trust accounts and in some cases, never released the wages of these struggling workers.” 

“Our action intends to right that wrong and to return lost and unpaid income into the hands of these workers and their families who lost valuable financial support from a government that marginalised them and disadvantaged the workers and their families.” 

How to register: 

Indigenous Australians who believe they may be eligible to join the class action should contact Shine Lawyers via phone or email. 

• Contact number: 1800 751 969 

• Contact email: stolen.Wages@shine.com.au