Events
Torres Strait Islander Eddie Koiki Mabo, who is at the time working as a gardener at James Cook University in Townsville, finds out he does not own the land back on Murray Island where he grew up.A land rights conference is held at James Cook University where Mr Mabo makes a speech outlining the land ownership and inheritance system on Murray Island.Mr Mabo, Sam Passi, David Pass, Celuia Mapo Salee and James Rice make a legal claim for ownership of their lands on Murray Island.The Queensland Government passes the Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory Act in an attempt to negate any claims Torres Strait Islanders have to the land.The High Court finds the Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory Act contravenes section 10 of the Federal Racial Discrimination Act 1975, and is therefore invalid.The High Court rejects the notion of terra nullius and recognises the Meriam people as the native title holders of traditional lands on Murray Island.Then prime minister Paul Keating makes an address to a 2,000-strong crowd in Redfern, where he says the blame for the plight of Indigenous Australia lies with non-Aboriginal Australians.The Keating government wins the March election and begins negotiations with Aboriginal leaders, the states and mining and pastoral interests on how to legislate the Mabo ruling.On November 16, the Native Title Act is tabled in Federal Parliament in response to the Mabo ruling.The High Court decision on a case brought by the Wik Peoples on Cape York Peninsula finds that statutory leases, such as pastoral leases do not completely extinguish native title rights.In response to the Wik decision, then prime minister John Howard implements a "10 point plan" through the Native Title Amendment Bill.
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