Free drop-in information sessions
Shine Lawyers plan to visit over 100 communities throughout the NT between September 2024 and August 2025 to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their families register for compensation money from the settlement.
Information session dates and locations can be found by clicking on the button below.
Settlement Announcement - Settlement for Northern Territory Stolen Wages group members for up to $202 million
The Commonwealth Government has agreed to pay up to $202 million (including costs) to settle the class action for Stolen Wages in the Northern Territory (subject to the Court saying that the settlement is fair and reasonable). This is an important and historic moment for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the Northern Territory, and we are proud to announce this news.
This means, the Commonwealth Government will pay up to $202 million to be shared between all living Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who worked between 1933 and 1972 for little or no wages. If any of these people have passed away, their spouse (husband, wife or de-facto partner) or their children can register to be considered for compensation money.
The settlement amount includes up to $15 million towards Ms McDonald’s legal costs for the court case, and up to $7 million for the costs of “administering” the settlement (helping people register, checking all of the registrations to make sure people are eligible and paying them compensation money).
For more information on the historic settlement, please view our media release.
What is the Northern Territory Stolen Wages Class Action about?
This class action was filed on behalf of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who worked in the Northern Territory between 1933 and 1971 for little or no wages.
Various laws were implemented in the Northern Territory by the Commonwealth Government to control the employment and wages of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and this impacted people working in many places. These workers may have been stockmen, farm hands, laundry assistants, kitchen hands, domestic workers and labourers. These workers may have been working on pastoral stations, in towns or on settlements, or in missions and other institutions.
Can I join the Northern Territory Stolen Wages Class Action?
You can be a part of the class action if:
A) You are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person; and
B) You were born before 12 November 1961; and
C) You worked in the Northern Territory between 1 June 1933 and 12 November 1971 for little or no wages; or
D) You are the spouse (husband, wife or partner – married or defacto) or the child of a person who fits A, B and C above and has passed away.
If you meet the criteria above, and you would like to talk to someone about your options, you can contact us and speak with our team.
How to register for the Northern Territory Stolen Wages Class Action
To register for the Northern Territory Stolen Wages Class Action settlement, please use the button below. To register over the phone, you can free call us on 1800 860 378.
Background
Shine Lawyers is proud to work with and have the support of Litigation Lending Services in this case.
Litigation Lending Services is also funding the Stolen Wages Class Action in Western Australia and the Stolen Generation Class Action in the Northern Territory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a class action?
What is a class action?
When Governments, large companies or institutions do the wrong thing and people are harmed or suffer loss as a result, an individual can have little to no means of bringing a legal claim.
Class actions are an important mechanism within Australia’s legal system that allow large groups of people to come together to pursue a claim collectively.
For a class action to take place, there are three criteria that need to be met:
there must be 7 or more people that have claims against the same defendant; and
the claims relate to the same or similar circumstances; and
the claim must relate to at least one common issue of law or fact.
For more information about how class actions resolve, click here.
How long do class actions take to resolve?
How long do class actions take to resolve?
It can take up to several years for a class action to resolve. The time taken from case commencement through to resolution and settlement administration depends on the particular case, and the nature of the claim.
For more information about class actions and how they work, click here.
Does it cost anything to join a class action?
Does it cost anything to join a class action?
Shine Lawyers is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or financial situation, has access to justice. We run our class actions in a way that means you are not exposed to any costs or financial risk, so joining a class action will cost you nothing.
When a class action is successful, the legal fees and costs to run the class action are deducted from the settlement amount that is approved by the Court. If the class action is unsuccessful, we will ensure there are no out-of-pocket costs to you.
Will my contact details be kept private?
Will my contact details be kept private?
Yes, your contact details will remain confidential and we will seek your consent before disclosing any of your personal information (including before such disclosure is required by the Court).
Shine Lawyers will only use your personal information strictly for the purpose of the legal proceedings.
Meet the Northern Territory Stolen Wages Class Action team
Shine Lawyers’ Northern Territory Stolen Wages Class Action team includes some of the firm’s most experienced litigators, solicitors and support staff. You can learn more about the team running this class action by clicking on their profile below.
Why Choose Shine Lawyers?
In successful settlements and judgments
We have secured more than $1 billion in class action settlements and judgments for our group members.
years of collective experience
Our team includes the country’s most experienced class actions experts and litigators with the skill, industry insight and dedication to deliver the best possible outcomes for deserving Australians.
dedicated class actions team members
We are proudly one of the largest class actions teams in the country. Our senior practitioners are supported by a dedicated team devoted to the complex field of class actions.
