Lump sum payment for Trust Fund claims
31 March 2009
A panel will be able to recommend more money for more people under changes to the Aboriginal Trust Fund Repayment Scheme.
The Scheme repays Aboriginal people for money placed into trust funds administered by the Aborigines Protection Board and the Aborigines Welfare Board up until 1969 and never repaid.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Paul Lynch said the Government had listened to the views of the community and had considered the advice of the Indigenous Panel which implements the Scheme.
Under the changes, a lump-sum repayment of $11,000 could be recommended by the Panel.
The Panel would now take into account non-documentary and oral evidence, when considering applications.
Panel Chair Aden Ridgeway said he was pleased the NSW Government had considered and accepted a number of changes to the Scheme recommended by
the Panel.
"These changes will build on the Scheme's achievements and ensure that it meets its intended aim of providing justice to Aboriginal people who had their money placed into Trust Fund accounts in the past which was never repaid," he said.
Last year, the Government extended the closing date for applications to the Aboriginal Trust Fund Repayment Scheme to 31 May, 2009, allowing more people time to lodge a claim.
The Scheme will continue to operate until 30 June 2010.
ATFRS Panel member Sam Jeffries said: "Two of the challenges faced by the Panel were the number of claims which were unsuccessful due to poor record-
keeping by past governments and the significant number of low payments which would have been likely to be higher but for the poor records."
"The changes announced by the NSW Government will ensure that the challenges we faced can now be addressed fairly and swiftly," he said.
Link-Up (NSW) CEO Glenda Stubbs said she believed the ATFRS had been working hard to achieve some justice and closure for Aboriginal people affected by the actions of the Aboriginal Welfare Board.
"I think the Government's decision to allow the Panel to take into account non- documentary evidence when considering applications will be a great help to Aboriginal people in making a claim," she said.
Mr Lynch said the Scheme would continue to make repayments to the descendants of Aboriginal people who were owed money from their Trust Fund accounts.
"The focus will be on repaying the spouse, children or grand-children, as recommended by the Panel," he said.
"However, it is important to note that for a descendant to be eligible for repayment, they must register with the Scheme by 31 May," Mr Lynch said.
"These funds were held in trust for Aboriginal people in NSW. The NSW Government is taking action to right the wrongs of the past," he said.
For further information go to the Aboriginal Trust Fund Repayment Scheme website.
MEDIA CONTACT: Andrew Williams 0408 602 936
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