Elder John Jones: Fraser Island - Stolen Wages ____

The following letter from the Office of the Premier is a response to Lyall Sempf sending in the post card.
The comments immediately below about the Premier's letter, are the personal views of Lyall Sempf:
Premier Beattie's letter is an insult to all those Aborigines whose wages were kept in "trust" by the government, but never paid in full to those who earned them. So much for the "Trust".
The Queensland Government has not taken this present action in good faith and out of a service of justice as stated in the letter. If Premier Beattie was genuinely moved by a service of justice, he would acknowledge his duty to properly account for, and return stolen wages, not just offer a token payment Who is Premier Beattie kidding?

Premier Beattie states that potential claimants are entitled to reject the offer, if they choose, and to pursue the matter in the courts. Why should anyone have to pursue in the courts what is rightfully theirs?
Many claimants do not have the funds to pursue the matter in the courts - and it will be the government which they will be fighting anyway.
Very poor effort Premier Beattie!

Many years ago the Aborigines fought to keep and control their lands and lost - many were shot, poisoned, raped and driven off their land, not to mention the many other atrocities inflicted on them until present.
Today under the Beattie Government, the Aborigines are still being inflicted by the "white collar" theft of their rightful wages.
I am sure that Premier Beattie would not like to have to go to court to fight to receive his superannuation funds when he retires.
Premier Beattie, things havn't changed much in the last 200 years, have they?
Your government leads the western world in institutional racism!
For our Aborigines it is not "Beautiful one day, perfect the next", it is "Racism one day, racism the next".

Refer: MULCULRALAFFAIRSQUEENSLAND, ISSUE 13 SEPTEMBER 2001
Premier supports anti-racism program
PREMIER Peter Beattie has announced the Queensland Government’s support for a national anti-racism program. The Program is an initiative of the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission, which plans to develop a range of resources to combat racism. ........
...... “The Queensland Government is committed to creating an harmonious and cohesive society which benefits from and values our cultural and linguistic diversity,” Premier Beattie said. “Thus we will fight racism in all its manifestations at both a personal level and in the workplace,” Mr Beattie said. “Racism is an evil element which has the capacity to emerge in all societies." “I am confident this program will help eliminate racism and importantly, it will teach our children why it cannot be tolerated in any form,” the Premier said.
(my emphasis in bold) Well said Premier Beattie, just practice what you preach!