Court finalises $144m to families in stolen wages claim

By PETER ROWE

The Federal Court has ruled compensation of over $144 million will be distributed to West Australian Indigenous station workers and their families, who had their wages withheld or were underpaid on stations between the 1930s and 1970s.

The judgment, which will be shared between 8.750 claimants, was finalised in a Melbourne court on Wednesday after it had been originally approved in WA last month.

Kimberley artist Mervyn Street had originally brought the case, claiming he had his wages withheld until he was in his 30s.

That complaint led to Shine Lawyers lodging claims for the 8750 workers.

But many families feel the amount being offered, after legal fees is an insult, amounting to just $16,500 on average per claim.

Shine Lawyers will receive $27.5m for their work with litigation funding company LLS paid $15.4m.