A historic stolen wages class action brought on behalf of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers and their relatives in the Northern Territory has been settled with the Commonwealth for up to $202 million.
Brought by lead applicant Minnie McDonald, the class action was filed in the Federal Court in June 2021 on behalf of First Nations people who worked in the Northern Territory between 1933 and 1971.
Under federal wage control legislation in place at the time, Indigenous workers could either be paid no money at all or significantly less than non-Indigenous workers.
During hearings held across the NT last year, the court heard many of the potential claimants worked as stockmen, farmhands, laundry assistants and kitchen hands.
Ms McDonald said that the time, many Aboriginal people, including herself, had grown up on stations and had their entire families working subject to the wage control laws.
She said it was sad that many impacted workers had since died and would never see the money they were rightfully owed.
"A lot of those people we worked with are gone now," she said.
"This is about all the people who were working everywhere and never got paid nothing."
The $202 million settlement figure was agreed to after mediation between lawyers for the government and Shine Lawyers.
Vicky Antzoulatos says there could be as many as 10,000 claimants. (Supplied: Shine Lawyers )
Shine Lawyers joint head of class actions Vicky Antzoulatos said there could be as many as 10,000 applicants once an planned outreach program was completed, with several thousand already signed up.
She said that while compensation payments couldn't undo the wage theft, they would be a meaningful attempt at righting the wrong.
"It was a terrible chapter in this nation's history," she said.
"I acknowledge the efforts of the Commonwealth government to recognise that, to reach this settlement and to attempt to bring reconciliation to these events."
Malarndirri McCarthy hopes the settlement will go some way towards closing a "shameful chapter" in Australia's history. (ABC News: Lee Robinson)
Federal Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy welcomed the settlement announcement on Friday, saying the case was a step towards righting a "shameful chapter" in history.
"This is a significant step towards fixing the wrongs of the past and I acknowledge Minnie McDonald and every First Nations person involved in bringing this class action forward to seek redress and healing," she said.
"The NT historical wages class action concerns a deeply regrettable and shameful chapter in Australian history.
"It is my hope that, if approved, the settlement will bring closure to many First Nations people impacted by these Commonwealth laws."
Similar cases in Western Australia and Queensland have been settled in recent years, resulted in payouts to First Nations workers over unpaid wages.
Many of the Indigenous people who were underpaid worked as stockmen. (Source: Australian News and Information Bureau)
The timeline for when eligible applicants will receive payments is yet to be determined.
The Federal Court of Australia will need to approve the settlement at a hearing, which could take place later this year.
In a statement, Shine Lawyers said claimants would need to be registered to be considered for compensation part of the settlement.
The firm said the registration process was expected to start in October, subject to court orders.
"The Court will decide the amount to be received by each eligible Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander worker or their family members who register," the statement said.
Ms Antzoulatos said lawyers from Shine would travel around the NT and speak to claimants about registering to receive money.
"We hope that payments will start to be received in the first half of next year," she said.
A spokesperson for Ms McCarthy said interim payments for eligible living applicants would be given priority.