Stolen Wages Taskforce, Western Australia

A Taskforce with the role of identifying the scope and extent of stolen wages in Western Australia was established in May 2007 by the State Government. The Taskforce found that there was insufficient evidence of wages held in trust being returned to the people who earned them. These people included Aboriginal children who had been in ‘care’. In 2012, the Government established the Stolen Wages Reparation Scheme WA as an expression of regret that this had occurred.

The multi-agency Taskforce was chaired by the Department of Indigenous Affairs and included representatives from the Department for Child Protection and Family Support. A panel of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisors assisted the Taskforce and a Project Team conducted research and consultations:

• Determining relevant records and specialist advice required
• Undertaking analysis, seeking advice as required and formulating an appropriate research methodology
• Undertaking comprehensive and appropriate consultation with Aboriginal people and communities, agencies and other parties on the scope and nature of the issues associated with monies withheld from Aboriginal people
• Conducting a number of case studies
• Suggesting policy options for going forward. Options could range from having no reparation scheme to alternative models for reparation schemes, identifying any administration issues.