For this illegal and deplorable treatment, Aaron and Dylan sought compensation from the NT Government on behalf of everyone in the class action.
You are a member of this class action if you were detained in a Northern Territory adolescent detention centre between August 1, 2006, and November 27, 2017.The Northern Territory government has agreed to compensate those involved in this class action without having to go to court. This is known as a’settlement.’
Although the NT government refuses to acknowledge that officers acted improperlyhowever, it has issued an apology for how young people were treated in youth detention.
The amount of compensation each person receives is determined by three factors:
This implies compensation money might vary for every individual.
What do I need to know about this ‘settlement’?
The NT Government has agreed to pay compensation money to people in this class action without needing a trial. This is called a ‘settlement’.
The NT Government agreed to pay $35 million for compensation money and the costs of running the class action.
On 15 December 2021 the Judge approved the settlement to say it is fair for everyone in the case.
When the Judge approved the settlement, her Honour also set the amount of legal costs that can be paid. Before that, these costs were checked by an independent costs expert to make sure they are fair.
The NT Government does not admit that officers acted illegally. But it has apologised for the way young people were treated in youth detention:
On 17 November 2017, following the delivery of the findings of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory, Chief Minister Michael Gunner publicly apologised for the failings of successive Northern Territory Governments in their responsibility to care for, protect and build children in youth detention.
He also said:
“I am sorry for the stories that live in the children we failed.
Youth justice is supposed to make our kids better,
not break them”
How much compensation money will I get?
You will only get money if you were in an NT youth detention centre, between 1 August 2006 and 27 November 2017.
How much compensation money each person gets will depend on 3 things:
- How long they were in youth detention for, between 1 August 2006 and 27 November 2017;
- What happened to them in youth detention; and
- How many other people register to claim compensation money – there are about 1,200 people in the class action.
This means compensation money might be different for each person.
We will get everything we need to work out each person’s compensation money from the NT Government. But everyone in the case needs to register their claim by 31 July 2022.
People can call us to check what the NT Government has told us about their time in youth detention. See ‘Where can I find out more?’ for how to contact Taxcellent Consulting Services.
In about April 2022, we will start telling people who have registered how much compensation money they will get. Then people can ask us to check it again and make sure they are getting the right money.
Where can I find out more?
Contact Taxcellent Consulting Services Lawyers:
If you’re not sure what to do, talk with your lawyer as soon as you can.
Settlement Notice Documents.
This letter is to tell you that the time for registrations has been extended to 31 July 2022. If you have already registered you do not need to register again. Compensation will now be paid from about June 2022
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