First Nations class action against Queensland discontinued

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 06:32 · Archive

A Federal Court class action on behalf of hundreds of Indigenous families against Queensland's child safety department has been discontinued after litigation funding ended.

A landmark Federal Court class action against the Queensland government's child safety department has been discontinued after litigation funding ended. The case, launched in 2023 on behalf of hundreds of First Nations families, alleged the department failed to reunite Indigenous children with their families and that both the removed children and separated parents experienced discrimination.

The action claimed the department did not support children in the system to learn and practice their culture, language or connection to Country. Group members were seeking financial compensation, a public apology, a consultation process to restore family relationships, and trauma-informed training for department staff.

UK funder Therium Litigation Finance Atlas terminated its support in September 2025, and lawyers for the DOCS Class Action were unable to find replacement funding. They applied to the Federal Court in April to discontinue the case. In September, Judge Craig Dowling determined that discontinuing the action would not be unfair or adverse to the interests of group members. The case was formally disbanded on Wednesday.

Judge Dowling noted that class action group members are not prevented from launching fresh legal action against the department in the future.

How it is being reported

• First Nations class action discontinued due to fundsThe Queensland government is no longer facing a federal lawsuit from Indigenous families after litigation funding ran out.The West Australian · 16 Oct, 06:04
• First Nations class action discontinued due to fundsThe Queensland government is no longer facing a federal lawsuit from Indigenous families after litigation funding ran out.Perth Now · 16 Oct, 06:04

In this story: Queensland government · First Nations · Federal Court · Therium Litigation Finance Atlas · Judge Craig Dowling · Queensland

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