The Queensland state government in Australia has offered more than Aus$55 million to Queensland Aborigines who have been fighting for a settlement over wages and savings withheld from them last century.
The Premier, Peter Beattie, describes the settlement as a win for indigenous Queenslanders who claim to have been short-changed and also for taxpayers who could face a payout of up to $100 million if the matter went to the courts.
"While we're not acknowledging legal liability, the reality is that many indigenous people argue that it was their money that was stolen from them," he said.
"This is about some equity and some justice but the winner is the taxpayer in the end. One case recently taken by the Federal Government cost $12 million to defend. I don't want to see money in the pockets of lawyers, I want to see some justice and that's what we're trying to do."
The money is expected to be offered to more than 16,000 indigenous Queenslanders.