The Pearling Industry and Australia's 'Deep Connection with Enslavement': Analysing a Slavery and Stolen Wages Claim

Slavery and stolen wages have been identified as drivers of intergenerational poverty amongst Indigenous people. Labour exploitation arguably amounting to slavery has existed in Australia from the early years of colonisation, and in Western Australia (‘WA’) since the 1860s. However, the recent ‘stolen wages’ class action settlements in WA and Queensland have only focussed on these practices as they existed from the mid to late 1930s until 1972. While there are practical and legal reasons for this choice, it does not recognise or compensate for the most egregious and inhumane practices existing during the earlier period. Using Aboriginal labour in WA’s 19th century pearling industry as a case study, this article argues that a compelling moral and arguable legal case exists for a slavery and stolen wages claim covering the period from the 1860s until the early 20th century.