$5m in unclaimed money held by Treasury

About $5.6 million owed to thousands of Western Australians is lying unclaimed in the Department of Treasury’s register of unclaimed money database, Treasurer Mike Nahan says.

The treasury has received unclaimed money notifications totalling $5.6 million, with most relating to share dividends, unclaimed wages and real estate transactions.

Mr Nahan said in the last 12 months more than $875,000 had been claimed from the database.

“There is no limit on claims and anyone who could clearly establish a rightful claim would be paid their money regardless of how long it had been held,” he said in a statement.

“I encourage everyone to check the register to see if they are entitled to any of the funds.”

Mr Nahan said Woodside Petroleum and Wesfarmers each reported unclaimed money totalling $500,000, while another seven organisations reported amounts of between $100,000 and $500,000.

The full register contains 450,000 unclaimed amounts.