As many as 8,000 people are believed to have been directly impacted by Western Australia’s practice of kidnapping and enslaving children in the 1940s and beyond. A class action has been filed to collect wages that were never paid to the workers. So far, at least 1,000 of those affected have registered their intent to seek remuneration.
An LFJ Conversation with Michael Kelley, Partner, Parker Poe
As many as 8,000 people are believed to have been directly impacted by Western Australia’s practice of kidnapping and enslaving children in the 1940s and beyond. A class action has been filed to collect wages that were never paid to the workers. So far, at least 1,000 of those affected have registered their intent to seek remuneration.
News.com AU explains that the stolen children were forced to work the mines in unbearable conditions, without proper equipment, wages, or proper food. Workers are represented in the case by Shine Lawyers, who received litigation funding from Litigation Lending Services.
Litigation Lending funded a similar case in 2019 that settled for $190 million.
Jan Sadler, head of class actions at Shine, explains that while the harm done cannot be erased with money, workers deserve compensation for the inhumane treatment they endured.
The case is expected to go through mediation. The WA government appears to appreciate and acknowledge the effect that government policies have had on Aboriginal people.
