What is the Northern Territory Stolen Wages Class Action about?
A class action has been filed on behalf of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who worked in the Northern Territory whose wages were unjustly withheld or not paid as a result of wage control legislation in effect from 1933 to 1971.
Various rules were implemented in the Northern Territory to control the employment and wages of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and this impacted workers in many industries. These workers may have been stockmen, farm hands, laundry assistants, kitchen hands, domestic workers and labourers.
It is estimated millions in stolen or unpaid wages could be owed. This case aims to ensure anyone impacted is able to recover their stolen wages.
Can I join the Northern Territory Stolen Wages Class Action?
You can be a part of the class action if:
You are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person;
AND
Between 1933 and 1971 you lived in the Northern Territory and worked or had your money or property controlled by the government at some point;
AND
You believe you weren't given all your pay or money or property;
OR
You are representing a family member who qualifies and has since 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 to a lawyer who may be able to help you to recover your family's wages.
Background
Shine Lawyers is proud to work with and have the support of Litigation Lending Services in this case. Litigation Lending Services funded the Hans Pearson v State of Queensland Class Action, which on Tuesday, 9 July 2019 achieved a $190 million in-principle settlement, marking an important step in the national reconciliation process.
You can read more of Hans Pearson's story here.
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?
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?
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?
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?
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 Generations 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.
