Update #4

New Update 6 March 2025
Report to the court and parties - Report to Court and Parties as at 5 March 2025.

Update #3

What is required from you?
 At this stage, if you have submitted a claim form, we do not require any further information from you.
 We will contact you directly if there are any questions about your claim.
Update
Thank you for your ongoing patience.
We appreciate that this matter is very important to you, and we are working as quickly and as diligently as possible.
Unfortunately, this process will take some time and we appreciate your patience. Please see the following update:
 
  • On 12 December 2024, David Hodgson and Tony Jonsson were appointed the Administrators of the Western Australia Stolen Wages Distribution Scheme (“the Scheme”).
  • Since the Administrators’ appointment, we have been working closely with Shine Lawyers to transition the contact / claim data of more than 13,000 claimants across to the Administrators’ systems.
  • We now confirm that we have received this data and are currently processing this information into a usable format. In the meantime, the Administrators are working with the State Solicitors Office.
  • Pursuant to the Scheme, Original Eligible Claimants will receive a minimum payment of $10,000, to a maximum of $16,500. The actual payment amount will be determined by the Administrators following their review of the claims, and assessment of the costs approved to be paid from the Settlement funds.
  • In respect of deceased Original Eligible Claimants, Descendent Eligible Claimants are to receive the same amount but shared equally if there is more than one Descendent Eligible Claimant.
  • Payments to Original Eligible Claimants and/or Descendent Eligible Claimants will be made progressively in separate batches, at which time those claimants being paid will receive a Distribution Statement detailing the amount being paid. Please see the website (https://www.stolenwageswa.com.au/faq.html) for further information on this process.
  • We are currently working with the Australian Taxation office to confirm our position in relation to PAYG tax to be withheld as part of the payment.
  • At this stage, the Administrators anticipate this process will take at least 6 months to complete entirely however we again note that some claimants will receive their payments much sooner.  

David Hodgson and Tony Jonsson
Administrators
24 February 2025

Update #2

The Stolen Wages Class Action was recently settled with the Western Australian Government for up to $180.4m. The formal orders approving the settlement were made by the Federal Court on 12 December 2024 and a copy is available in the Documents tab.
 
The Court appointed us, Tony Jonsson and David Hodgson of Grant Thornton Australia Limited, to administer the distribution of the settlement monies to eligible claimants. 
 
We will not be able to finalise the entitlement of claimants until after the Federal Court appeal period expires on 21 February 2025. If no appeal is lodged, then from 22 February 2025 we will review the eligibility of all claims and ensure we have up-to-date information for all registered claimants and registered representatives for claimants that have passed away. 
 
Information about the Stolen Wages Class Action, the settlement scheme, the distribution process and the information sessions will be available on this website as they are released, so check back regularly.
 
If you require further information or assistance, please call the Stolen Wages Hotline on (08) 9480 2005 or send an email to [email protected].
 
David Hodgson and Tony Jonsson
Administrators
18 December 2024

Update #1

Settlement Approval Hearing
​Following a two-day hearing on 28 and 29 October 2024, Justice Murphy of the Federal Court of Australia proposed to approve the settlement in the Western Australia Stolen Wages Class Action. The next steps in the settlement process are below:
  1. The Court will deliver a written judgment about the settlement. 
  2. The Court will appoint an independent administrator to determine the exact amount each eligible group member will receive from the settlement, and when payments will be made. 
  3. The Court will make orders about other deductions from the settlement fund, including the Applicant’s legal fees and the costs of the funder. 

David Hodgson and Tony Jonsson
Administrators
​28 November 2024