Willie M Class Action: Definition, History, and Further Reading
Introduction
Willie M (short for “Willie Make it Right”) class action is a civil rights litigation in Australia designed to seek compensation from the New South Wales government for the abuse and neglect of Indigenous children in foster, residential, and juvenile justice care between the years of 1945 and 1999. The class action was initiated in 2004 and is considered to be one of the largest civil rights cases in Australian history. This article will provide an overview of the Willie M class action, including its definition, history, and further reading.
Definition
The Willie M class action is a civil action initiated to seek compensation from the New South Wales government for the abuse and neglect of Indigenous children in foster, residential, and juvenile justice care between the years of 1945 and 1999. The class action was initiated in 2004 and is considered to be one of the largest civil rights cases in Australian history.
History
The Willie M class action was initiated in 2004 by the Indigenous Law Centre (ILC) as part of a broader campaign aimed at seeking justice for Indigenous Australians. The class action was initiated on behalf of Indigenous children who had experienced physical, emotional, and sexual abuse while in care. The action sought compensation from the New South Wales government for the abuse and neglect of Indigenous children in foster, residential, and juvenile justice care between the years of 1945 and 1999. The class action was initially unsuccessful, but the ILC continued to fight for justice for Indigenous Australians and in 2007, the New South Wales Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Willie M class action and ordered the government to pay compensation to the victims of abuse.
Further Reading
This article provides an overview of the Willie M class action, including its definition, history, and further reading. The following articles provide additional information on the class action and related topics:
Fletcher, M. (2009). Reconciling with the past: The Willie M litigation as a tool for Indigenous empowerment. International Journal of Human Rights, 13(5), 757–776.
Hall, C. (2009). The Willie M litigation: An Australian class action for compensation for Indigenous people suffering abuse in state care. Human Rights Law Review, 9(4), 595–614.
McDonald, J., & Martin, D. (2012). The Willie M class action: Reflections on the process and future directions for Indigenous peoples’ access to justice. Australian Indigenous Law Review, 16(2), 64–77.
Conclusion
This article provided an overview of the Willie M class action, including its definition, history, and further reading. The Willie M class action is a civil action initiated to seek compensation from the New South Wales government for the abuse and neglect of Indigenous children in foster, residential, and juvenile justice care between the years of 1945 and 1999. The class action was initiated in 2004 and is considered to be one of the largest civil rights cases in Australian history. The action was initially unsuccessful, but the Indigenous Law Centre continued to fight for justice for Indigenous Australians and in 2007, the New South Wales Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Willie M class action and ordered the government to pay compensation to the victims of abuse.