federal Class Action Seeks Redress for ‘Racially Discriminatory’ Work-for-the-Dole Scheme
CANBERRA – A federal class action has been lodged against the Commonwealth government alleging its Community Advancement program (CDP),a work-for-the-dole scheme operating in remote areas,was racially discriminatory.The claim, encompassing participants in Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, South australia and new South Wales between 2015 and 2021, seeks the return of penalties paid by participants, a formal apology, and guarantees against recurrence.
The action follows years of criticism regarding the CDP’s disproportionate impact on First Nations Australians and builds on a 2021 settlement with the Ngaanyatjarra traditional owners’ council in Western Australia. That settlement saw the government pay $2 million, without admitting liability, after claims the program was racist. This new class action aims to broaden redress for those affected across multiple states and territories, arguing the CDP imposed unfair penalties and lacked genuine employment opportunities.
“We want to claw back some of the penalties that people paid … we want the commonwealth to apologise, and we want this not to happen again,” a representative of the claimants stated.
The Albanese government has already begun dismantling the CDP, replacing it with the Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program. Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy highlighted the new program’s investment of over $700 million, stating, “We have invested more than $700m into our new Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program to give First Nations Australians the dignity of real work, real pay and better conditions.” She described the new program as “a gamechanger” focused on self-determination, economic opportunity, and community development.
The outcome of the class action could compel the government to provide further compensation and formally acknowledge the discriminatory aspects of the previous scheme, potentially setting a precedent for addressing systemic issues in remote employment programs.
