Eddie Koiki Mabo
Category: Other
Updated: 4 Sep 2018
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Created byGeorge C Spring
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Eddie Koiki Mabo discovers he doesn't legally own the land her grew up on while talking to historians Noel Loos and Henry Reynolds at JCU.Born on Murray Island in the Torres Strait.Left Murray Island and moved to mainland Australia.Spoke at a conference about land rights at JCU. Decision made to take case to court, at the suggestion of a lawyer in the Audience. The notion of Terra Nullius would be challenged.Mr Mabo, Sam Passi, David Pass, Celuia Mapo Salee and James Rice make legal claim for ownership of lands on Murray Island.The QLD Government passes the QLD Coast Islands Declaratory Act to try negate claims Torres Strait Islanders have.The High Court ruled in Mabo v QLD that the QLD Coast Islands Declaratory Act 1985 was incompatible with the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.Aged 56, Eddie Koiki Mabo passes away due to cancer.High Court overturns the legal doctrine of terra nullius 'land belonging to nothing, no one'. Verdict is in favour of the Murray Islanders in Mabo v QLD. Mabo is unfortunately not alive to celebrate the victory.Prime minister Paul Keatingadresses crowd of 2000 in Redfern, saying the blame for the plight of Indigenous Australia lies with non-Aboriginal Australians.Some groups are still resistant to the bill. Finally however, after 111 hours of debate, the longest in 92 years of Senate history, the bill passes.Recognised by The Australian newspaper as the 1992 Australian of the Year.JCU Library, Townsville, is officially named the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library.Periods
Time employed at James Cook University. Mabo was an avid user of the library while employed at JCU.Engaged in active community service in politics, trade unions, Indigenous Australian rights, and public events.
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