The Wire

In March 2004, the New South Wales Government formally acknowledged and apologized for deducting wages, pensions and endowments from Aboriginal people and placing these monies into trust fund accounts. Despite the fact that this policy ended in 1969, no repayments have been made, and it’s estimated that some 11 500 Aboriginal people may be owed up to $70 million dollars. Following the promise by the NSW Government to repay these monies, an independent three-member panel was created to develop the Aboriginal Trust Fund Reparation Scheme. Indigenous lawyer and panel member, Terri Janke, says the panel has two main roles – the first is to consult with Indigenous people who may have been affected and to determine a fair way to repay their money. The second is to inform Indigenous people about the trust funds, as it’s become clear that many are not even aware that they’re owed money. This lack of awareness, together with the fact that the stolen wages issue is being largely ignored by main stream media, may go someway in explaining the low turnouts at some of the consultation meetings. Chris Hartley and Mariko Lawson visited one of the community consultation meetings to see the panel in action. They spoke to Indigenous Lawyer and panel member, Terri Janke; Leah Taylor, an Indigenous woman whose father had some of his income placed in trust accounts; and Charles Mundine from the Link-Up program.

Aboriginal Trust Fund Reparation Scheme
Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR)