Arthur Ah Wang and his brother Paul look the same but the Queensland government has never recognised the twins as equals.
The Aboriginal men, now 76, can't understand why one of them received compensation for wages "stolen" from them as boys when the other didn't.
But Arthur is hoping to change that.
With the help of the Queensland Council of Unions, he's lobbying the government to finally acknowledge he worked alongside his brother diving for pearls off Mackay from 1948.
In 2002, the Beattie government promised to pay $55.6 million to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who were either underpaid, not paid or had their wages stolen by "protectors" between the late 1800s and the 1970s.
The Ah Wang brothers said they both filled out claim forms, with basically the same information, about their eight years working 12-hour shifts as pearl divers from the age of 13.
A cheque for $3,000 arrived for Paul but Arthur's claim was denied.
When the reparations process ended in June last year, a total of $35.5 million had been paid to 5778 eligible claimants.
"I thought I was going to get same treatment as Paul," Arthur told reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday.
"He got his (money) and I was closed down. Over and out."
Queensland Council of Unions general secretary Ron Monaghan has taken up the fight for Arthur and many like him who missed out on payments.
The brothers and Mr Monaghan on Wednesday met with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Curtis Pitt to put forward their case.
Mr Monaghan said about $20 million that was not allocated from the $55.6 million funding pool had been redirected by the Bligh government for scholarships for Indigenous children.
He says that money should be reinstated for its original purpose to help people like Arthur.
"We got a good hearing from the minister," Mr Monaghan said.
"He has agreed to look at this issue again and take it up to government."
Mr Monaghan said he approached Liberal National Party leader Campbell Newman three weeks ago but had not heard back.
In a statement, Mr Pitt said the remaining funds were being put to good use for the benefit of indigenous Australians.
"The latest round of funding for these scholarships was announced earlier this month, with $1.6 million being given to 476 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students throughout the state," he said.
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