A remote Work for the Dole program is under fire, with a class action alleging it harmed and discriminated against Indigenous participants. A class action has been launched against the federal government, alleging that a former Work for the Dole program racially discriminated against thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in remote communities. The class action, launched by Maurice Blackburn lawyers on Monday, is seeking compensation for Indigenous people who undertook work activities under the Community Development Program between 2015 and 2021. The class action claims the program meant participants, who were disproportionately Indigenous people living in remote communities, had to work more hours to receive their income support, and under more onerous conditions than their urban counterparts undertaking work for the dole activities. “There was shame in doing this to our own people.”Maurice Blackburn principal lawyer Miranda Nagy said the program was deeply flawed and unfairly targeted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.