I move… on behalf of the Australian Government, that we acknowledge a significant wrong in this country.
That between 1933 and 1971 under the laws of the Commonwealth that determined how much people got paid in the Northern Territory, First Nations people worked for very low wages – and in some cases, no wages at all.
For this, as Minister for Indigenous Australians, I am sorry.
For this, the Australian Government is sorry.
We know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lived and thrived for tens of thousands of years prior to the arrival of the First Fleet.
We know that First Nations people have a deep, unbroken connection to Australia’s lands and waters and exceptional talents in protecting and caring for Country.
And we know that First Nations people have been harmed by many of the laws and policies created in this country since European settlement.
Indigenous people were stolen from their families.
Indigenous people were used for back-breaking labour, building new communities that often excluded them.
We know they did gruelling and critical work, particularly in the Northern Territory.
Toiling on farms and stations, building, tending to stock, cooking and cleaning, gardening, making clothes.
Now, we also know that under Commonwealth laws in place for decades, until a little over 50 years ago, First Nations people in the Northern Territory did this work for very little pay.
Even, in some cases, for no pay at all.
Often for excruciatingly long hours.
Often in remote locations and difficult conditions.
Often away from family.
During this period of Australia’s growth, the knowledge and hard work of First Nations people in the Northern Territory was heavily relied upon and at times exploited.
Unfair Commonwealth laws denied Indigenous people fair financial reward for their efforts in working to build communities across Australia.
When I first came to this place, I spoke in my first speech about a great man, Vincent Lingiari, who led the Wave Hill Walk-Off in 1966, demanding equal pay and equal rights for his peers.
He was supported by Australians across the country who believed in a fair go for all.
Today, I stand here, a proud Yanyuwa Garrawa woman, and Minister for Indigenous Australians, reflecting on those words.
I acknowledge that the injustices Vincent Lingiari fought against in 1966 had gone on for many years in many different circumstances – particularly in the Northern Territory.
Today, I am here to say how deeply sorry I am for that.
I am sorry for the suffering and injustice inflicted on First Nations people, my people, through the laws of the Commonwealth that denied them the right to fair pay for work done.
I hope the Commonwealth’s recent settlement of the Northern Territory Historical Wages class action, bravely led by Ms Minnie McDonald, can help to bring closure to this shameful chapter in Australia’s history.
I hope it allows for our reconciliation journey to continue – one of truth-telling and healing.
Through you, President – I thank Ms McDonald.
Thank you for your courage and strength in leading this class action.
Thank you for sharing some of your story.
In Ms McDonald’s own words:
“It was hard when we were growing up. We lived in the bush and didn’t have any school. When I was young I started working on stations.
I was working with my family – my father, my mother and my brothers were on the station. I later met my husband when working on stations. We had nothing and had to live on bush tucker and a bit of bread. A lot of those people we worked with are gone now. This is about all the people who were working everywhere and never got paid nothing.”
In the hearings, Ms McDonald told the court of how instead of going to school, she was sent to do domestic work at about the age of 14 years, working 6 days a week for very little pay at Georgina Downs Station and then at Argadargada Station.
Working, with, and I quote:
“No holidays.”
“Sweeping up, washing dishes, washing their clothes… scrubbing walls, everything. Never seen the money though.”
President – Ms McDonald wasn’t alone.
Thank you to those other members of this class action who travelled long distances last year to share their stories with the court.
Thank you to Bessie Parsons, Frank Holmes, Lilly Stafford, Marie Ellen, Alan Drover, Veronica Dobson, Daniel Forrester, Kennedy Ricky, Billy Grant, Henry Bob, Peter Parlow, Mary Allum, Maisie Smith, Brian Freddie, Linda Turner, Susan Nurra, Marie Allen, Maybelle Bourke, Sister Barbara Tippolay and Nora Sullivan.
I thank those who gave evidence and have since passed away. I acknowledge them and their families.
They recounted the stories working in unfair conditions, often from dawn to dusk.
The stories of childhoods spent separated from families, of violence and punishment.
The stories of working before, after, and instead of going to school.
The stories of working in great physical difficulty.
Often away from Country and away from family.
All for very little or no pay.
Thank you all for your patience and grace in waiting for acknowledgement from the Commonwealth for the wrongs you suffered as a result of these laws.
I am grateful and to each of you I say: I am sorry.
I am heartened that, because of your efforts with this class action, a significant cohort of First Nations people and their families in the Northern Territory will now receive compensation for the work performed during these formative years of Australian democracy.
We must tell the truth of this dark period in our Country’s past.
We must recognise the pain and suffering caused by denying First Nations people their fundamental rights, including the right to fair pay.
To Ms McDonald, to all who gave evidence, to all of those impacted, to First Nations people of the Northern Territory, I am sorry.
Thank you for coming forward with your stories.