For the past century, the Australian government unfairly withheld up to 75% of Aboriginal workers' pay earnings. Now, some Australian states have started putting in place plans to pay back the money that was taken--but in amounts that hardly make amends.
Most recently, Western Australia agreed to offer only up to $2000 per person, with the strict requirement that the workers prove that their wages were withheld.
Many of the Aboriginal workers never kept records, and the $2000 maximum pay-back is nowhere close to what Aboriginal workers have had taken by the government.
In comparison, New South Wales offered up to $11,000 to each person whose wages were taken from them.
Tell Western Australia's Barnett Administration that its current pay-back deal is still marked by injustice and he must move to compensate the workers more fairly.
Dear Premier Colin Barnett:
I am writing to express my deep concern that the current Western Australian pay-back deal for Aboriginal workers is still marked by injustice.
[Your comments here]
While I thank this administration for becoming the third Australian state to make an effort to compensate the Aboriginal workers whose money was unjustly witheld by the government, the plan is still deeply problematic.
It has come to my attention that Western Australia is offering only up to $2000 to compensate Aboriginal workers, and they may only receive compensation if they are able to prove that their wages were withheld.
Many of the Aboriginal workers never kept records, and the $2000 maximum pay-back is nowhere close to what Aboriginal workers have had taken by the government--which can be up to 75% of their earnings. In comparison, New South Wales offered up to $11,000 to each person whose wages were taken from them.
These workers
earned the money that was so unfairly taken from them, due only to their race. It is imperative that these workers are fairly compensated. I urge you to make changes that are fairer and closer to the amount of money that was taken.
Thank you for your time, and for taking steps towards mending the gap between Aboriginal Australians and non-Aboriginal Australians.
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
