Equal Wages

We might think when The Northern Territory Aboriginal pastoral workers were finally granted equal pay in 1965 that this was only right and just, and long overdue. Unfortunately, in many ways it would only compound the damage whitefellas had already done.

To appreciate how this happened and the damage done, let’s look at

• the changing attitudes of the pastoral workers’ union;
• the laws in place at the time equal pay was granted;
• changes in the government’s attitude to Aboriginals;
• how the equal pay decision was made;
• and what happened afterwards.