Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Bit of a change of pace, because we are catching
up well with Katrina Tomlins, whose mother and father were
part of the Stolen Generation that were taken to Garden Point,
the Garden Point Mission on the Tiwei Islands. Descendants of
the Stolen Generation one a fifty million dollar class action
against the federal government back in twenty twenty two, but
(00:20):
they say that the law firm is still yet to
distribute the money now. According to a report by the ABC,
Shine Lawyers won the class action for two thousand people
whose parents were forcibly removed to Northern Territory institutions between
nineteen seventy three and twenty twelve under the federal government
assimilation policies. The article goes on to say that Shine
(00:42):
Lawyers last year advised that claimants would start to receive
payments this year, but that doesn't seem to have happened now.
Katrina joins me on the line right now. Good morning, Katrina,
Good morning, Good morning, Katie, Thanks so much for your time.
Where are things at from your perspective, Very.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Very disappointing, really disheartening, Yes, just traumatizing again, just waiting
on their dishonesty on not giving us a date and
letting us know.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
It'll be It must be tough, as I understand it.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, But your mum and
dad were both part of the Stolen Generation? How are
they feeling at this point.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
They both passed away.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I'm so sorry I didn't realize, Katrina, that must make
it even harder for your family. Oh, mate, So we're
so from your perspective now at this point in time. Obviously,
you know, according to this article by the ABC Shine lawyers,
(01:58):
they had said that people were going to to be
paid out this year, but that's not happened yet.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
No, No, that was supposed to be in April this year.
And because of all their their legal jargons, you know,
that's that doesn't have anything to do with us. You know,
they're just supposed to be paying us the money and
then and they're not.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Katrina, how difficult has this process been for you and
your sister and for your family, particularly with your mum
and dad no longer with us.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
It's really it's really hardening, really painful.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Oh, I can't even begin to imagine. And yeah, I
mean the thing is, it's it's a tough process going
through the legal system anyway, as it is, But I remember,
you know, I remember after the decision was made and that,
you know, when we found out that that class action
(03:03):
had been one, there was there was you know, there
was real positivity. I interviewed a couple of the beautiful
women in the studio when that happened, and there was
real positivity. But now to hear that it hasn't flown
through must be so disappointing.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
It is, it is, and it's not not just just
for myself, but but for the whole lot of us
because we are together as a family, the community. Yeah,
the Stolen generation.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Us. What are some of those some of those members
of the Stolen generation that are still alive saying to
you and is this causing them sort of ongoing heartache?
It is?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
It is, you know when you when you talk about things,
you've got to relive everything again. Thank you a when
you have to talk the story.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Now. I understand that you're pretty concerned as well that
people who are entitled to those funds are getting sick
and passing away during this lengthy delay.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yes, we've had quite a few funerals and it's and
it's not there. So we're all thinking, like you know,
we've lost so many people. Are we going to all
pass away before the money finally gets settled? And then
where is the money going to go to?
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Yeah, the train of what like, what are they saying
to you at the moment in terms.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Of they're not saying anything. They're not saying anything. We've
been trying to ring them up, and every time you
ring up, you just get put through to our answering machine,
which is really disturbing, and you don't get any calls back.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Well, look, I tell you what, you know. What we
will do is we all try and get in contact
with Seine lawyers as well to find out, you know,
see if they will give us any any statement or
any kind of indication of where things are at. I
don't know if it's going to help much, but I'd
like to at least try and do that for you.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
That would be really good, because look, we just feel like,
you know, that that money is for the stolen generation,
and we feel like that money is just getting stolen
off us.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Yeah. Well, look, I can understand that you guys are
I'm trying to think of the right word that's not
a swear word, but that you'd be quite upset at this,
you know, and that is still waiting after what's already
been a really traumatic time for your family and for
those members of the stolen generation. And and then you know,
(05:47):
particularly after feeling that you know that there was going
to be that compensation and now wondering where where it
is it must be really hard.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
It is it is it's just just not knowing. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
just just being left in the dark. And I just feel,
you know, for their professionalism, that they're not acting on it.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Well, Katrina, let us see what we can find out.
As I said, I don't know whether we'll be able
to get much of an answer, but we'll at least
try and ask and find out where things are at.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Yeah, that would be really beautiful. I really appreciate that,
no worries about just because we just we just want
someone to help us to.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Get what we what you what you've been told you're
entitled to. I mean, this is the thing. Yes, So yeah, well, Katrina,
I really appreciate you speaking to me this morning. I
know it would be really difficult, and I appreciate your
having a chat with me this morning. We'll do our
best to get in contact with them and see if
we can get some kind of update.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
That would be beautiful. Thank you very much for that, Katie.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
No worries, no worries, thank you. Thanks Katrine, Thanks for
having a chat with me this morning.