The Australian government is facing a major class action lawsuit alleging its Work for the Dole program discriminated against Aborigines.
Lawyers from Maurice Blackburn argue that between 2015 and 2021, remote participants in the Community Development Program (CDP) were forced to work 50 hours a fortnight year-round—compared to 30 hours for only six months in urban areas—to receive the same welfare payments. Claimants say the scheme was punitive, imposed harsher conditions on rural Indigenous communities, and led to stress, illness, and disproportionate penalties when obligations couldn’t be met.
Indigenous leaders likened the impact of the CDP to a “cyclone” tearing through communities, with people—including those with disabilities—forced into unfair work arrangements without consultation.
The case is expected to cover 20,000 Indigenous Australians across 60 remote communities.
The Australian government says it is phasing out the scheme and replacing it with a $770 million Remote Jobs and Economic Development Programme.
