The Government Owes a Lot of Money to our People: A History of Indigenous Stolen Wages in Victoria

Description

Over most of the twentieth century, Indigenous people throughout Australia have had their wages, savings and pensions largely controlled by governments and their agencies. These practices are referred to today as the Stolen Wages policies.

This book is the first comprehensive study on the history and impact of past Stolen Wages policies in Victoria. The book details the findings of several consultations conducted with Indigenous communities. It also analyses the exclusion of Indigenous people from Commonwealth and Victorian social security benefits. Further, the book explores the history of employment and wages of Indigenous people in Victoria, including employment controls, underpayments and Indigenous trust funds.

This book addresses a significant period in the history of Indigenous and non-Indigenous relations in Victoria. 

Dr Andrew Gunstone is a Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies, School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences, Monash University. 

Sadie Heckenberg is a Wiradjuri woman from New South Wales and an Honours student and tutor in the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies, School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences, Monash University.