The Federal Court of Australia has made orders extending the deadline for group members to register for the Western Australian Stolen Wages class action to 30 September 2024.
Group members must register before 30 September 2024 to be considered for compensation, even if they registered with the law firm, Shine, before November 2023.
The settlement approval hearing has been moved to 28 and 29 October, in Perth.
People are part of the class action and should register if: They are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander persons who were born before 9 June 1962; Between 11 December 1936 and 9 June 1972 they worked in Western Australia and worked at some time for little or no wages; OR they represent a family member who qualifies and has since passed away (if the person who passed away was their spouse (husband / wife/ partner – married or defector) or child).
Shine Lawyers' Joint Head of Class Actions Vicky Antzoulatos said on Friday: "The most critical message for us to get out there is that group members now have more time to complete a registration form, but they must do so before 30 September 2024."
"Even if group members submitted a registration form before 14 November 2023, they are required to register again using a different registration form," she said.
Shine can help group members complete a registration form over the phone by calling 1800 976 150 or sending an email to [email protected].
Mervyn Street is the lead applicant in Shine Lawyers' Stolen Wages WA class action, who launched the case in 2020 on behalf of workers and surviving relatives of those who received little or no wages for work between 1936 and 1972.
In a historic class action settlement, the State of Western Australia will pay up to $165 million to eligible Aboriginal workers or their surviving spouses and children.
The Court will decide the exact amount to be received by each Aboriginal worker or their family members who register.
"Over the past seven months, Shine Lawyers has visited over 100 communities throughout Western Australia to hold free, drop-in information sessions throughout Western Australia following the WA Stolen Wages Class Action settlement," said Ms Antzoulatos.
"The sessions provided group members with the opportunity to speak to the lawyers running the Western Australia Stolen Wages Class Action, get information about the Settlement Notice and assistance with registering to be considered for compensation.
"We urge everyone who believes they are eligible to register before the 30 September deadline, as this is their last chance to get compensation from the State of Western Australia for the wages they didn't get paid."
