Two class actions launched in 2023 against the Queensland government, alleging that the state's child safety department discriminated against Indigenous families by removing children and placing them with predominantly white families, are to be discontinued in the Federal Court after their litigation funder withdrew support.
Cindy, a Queensland grandmother who cannot be identified for legal reasons, joined the lawsuit in late 2023. She said the case was not about the payout but about accountability for how child safety treated her. She described being blocked from regaining care of her grandchildren after they were removed, saying she sat in the gutter and cried for her child on the night they were taken.
The lawsuits, spearheaded by Brett Harold Gunning and Madison May Burns, claimed Indigenous families were stripped of their cultural identity. They sought an apology and compensation.
Cindy expressed disappointment and anger at how the case was handled, noting a lack of communication. The last update she received was in September last year, advising that litigation funder Therium Capital Management had decided it no longer wanted to continue funding the case. The matter initially handled by Bottoms English Lawyers changed hands when the solicitor moved firms last year.
Therium Capital Management was contacted for comment.