ALSWA Media Statement
6 March 2012
The Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia (ALSWA) has slammed the WA State Government’s offer of up to $2000.00 to Aboriginal workers whose past wages were stolen by the state.
“This is a slap in the face and a cruel and heartless offer which offends the very notion of recompense,” said ALSWA CEO Adjunct Professor Dennis Eggington.
”This is not just about stolen wages or pensions that were withheld, nor is it about coming up with an equitable scheme. This state’s economic power was built upon the backs of hard working, proud Indigenous men and women who had their hard earned wages withheld. To now offer these people such a paltry amount diminishes the contributions that our people have made. Any offer made must also ensure that monies are repaid in terms of today’s monetary value,” said Mr. Eggington.
This offer comes six years after ALSWA’s submission to the Senate Inquiry into Stolen Wages recommending the just return of stolen wages to Aboriginal workers. OThis offer is an affront to all fair minded Western Australians who believe in common decency and a fair go and it is a vile and disgusting breach of the duty of this state to those whose wages were stolen,” said Mr. Eggington. “In a state that is reaping a fortune from the resource sector to offer nothing more than the crumbs off the table is reminiscent of the mission ration days. In the current economic climate it is hardly any better than flour and tea.”
Many Indigenous workers had their wages withheld in trust accounts by successive state governments and with the early mortality rate of Indigenous adults, many have not survived long enough to see their wages returned. “This is not just about paying back what was stolen in today’s value, but also rewriting this state’s shameful history to ensure that the contributions made by our people are rightfully acknowledged. ALSWA urges the Indigenous Affairs Minister, Peter Collier to retract the offensive offer and begin urgent negotiations to settle upon a fair and equitable amount commensurate with the valuable contributions that Indigenous men and women have made to WA. “The significant legacy these people left this state was paid for in blood, sweat and tears and to have this measured so meagrely is heart breaking to those who have survived and insulting to the families of those who didn’t,” said Mr. Eggington.
ALSWA will be encouraging people to continue down the path of litigation and not settle for anything less than they are entitled to. “It’s a disgraceful and insulting offer and will not deter ALSWA from seeking legal advice about taking action against the State,” said Mr. Eggington.
ALSWA Media Enquiries to ALSWA Media Officer Jodi Hoffmann on 0428 948 610
Editor's note: The masthead of the website displays breathtakingly beautiful photographs of Western Australian country and works by two Aboriginal artists (excerpts below).
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Comments
Typical racist and arrogant disposition of the Crown's minions
This act by the WA government is merely typical of the racist and arrogant disposition of the Crowns' minions in the various parliaments upon Tribal lands here.
Those of the WA parliament have exposed by these actions that the parliament is devoid of morals and scruples given the offer and its connotations. This offer reflects the States' disposition that the Tribes are just worthless slaves - here for the State and its racist Anglo war lords and miners to expoit at will.
This is akin to the Commonwealth government knowing that Tribal men live some 17 years less than a non-Tribal man yet we are not allowed to access our Super monies an equal number of years earlier than non-Tribal men. These schemes are designed only to provide benefits for the Anglos and others in the withholding of such monies to ensure the slaves don't get paid their due.
Australia should be condemned for its ongoing abuse of Tribal peoples and the continued programmed destruction (ethnic cleansing) of the Tribes for the benefit of the Crown and its muppets under Agenda 21 and other programs specifically designed to ethnically cleanse the Tribes from the record.
The Autralian parliaments would do well to revisit their obligations under UN Resolution 2625 (XXV) which requires the Crown to decolonise Tribal lands upon demand by the Tribe/s.
This demand is now on the table and record for the Crown and UN member State of Australia and its minion Nazi States and Territories to read and take clear practical notice of.
Those Police and Judges who continue the progams of ethnically cleansing the Tribes from the record for their political masters ARE being recorded and will be dealt with in a similar manner to those dealt with at the Nuremburg Trials.
Australia and its racist bent was no more clearly exposed than earlier this week when Australian politicians broke out in a lather of vitriolic sweat over the 'desecration' of war graves in Lybia - yet at the same time these same dogs continue to allow - and in fact approve and support - the same desecration of Tribal graves all over this continent.
Our anscestors are of a greater consequence to this land than those who died in Lybia EVER were.