The Australian
12 NOV 2002

Beattie sits on blacks' payout
By Ashleigh Wilson


THE Queensland Government has delayed a decision on a $55 million compensation package 
for Aborigines whose wages were lost or stolen.

Premier Peter Beattie said state cabinet had discussed the issue yesterday, but no decision
had been made.

This was despite Mr Beattie's claim that the compensation offer was final.

The $55.4 million payment would provide compensation of up to $4000 each to 16,400
Aborigines whose wages were controlled by the government between the 1890s and 1972.

The figure was last week criticised as ``insultingly low'' by Aboriginal Social Justice
Commissioner Bill Jonas, who said only 10 per cent of people eligible for the payment had
been consulted.

Mr Beattie yesterday rejected that claim, saying consultations had been adequate.

"We have consulted, and consulted and consulted to death," Mr Beattie said.

"We've got a million people who want to express their view, and they're all entitled to 
do it, but somewhere along the line you've got to make a decision. There are senior
indigenous people who are dying and I have got to the stage where I am sick of the games.
I'm going to ensure that indigenous people get their money."

The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Legal Services Secretariat was commissioned by the
Government to consult indigenous communities around the state before an August deadline 
for the offer.

QAILSS reported that 96 per cent of people surveyed were in favour of the deal, but 
project officer Vern Hopkins said yesterday more time was needed to contact everyone 
and to explain the issues properly.

"You just can't rush in and rush out," Mr Hopkins said.

"We certainly would have liked more time, but we weren't allowed that luxury because 
of the timeframe the Government gave us."

Mr Hopkins said no pressure was put on the indigenous people to accept the offer.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission deputy chairman Ray Robinson said
indigenous communities were keen to get their money.

"There's been plenty of consultation," he said.