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The Yirrkala Petition
In 1963, the Yolungu people of Arnhem Land presented a petition to the Australian Government protesting agaisnt mining on their land which went to the high court. they were not sucessful but it drew attention to the claims of the Indigenous people. -
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History of Australian Aboriginal Land Rights
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Wave Hill Cattle Station Strike
The Gurindji people staged a strike at the Wave Hill cattle station over -
Tent Embassy
The Indigenous people became tired of rejection and set up a tent embassy outside old parliament house claiming that they were being treated like aliens in a foreign land and they need a place of refuge. -
Gough Whitlam presents Gurindji people with part of Wave Hill Cattle Station
Prime Minister Gough Whitlam recognised the Gurindji people as the traditonal owners of Wave Hill Cattle Station and presented Vincent Lingiari with ownership of part of the land. -
Ownership rights in the Northern Territory
The Australian government passes a law which entitles Aboriginals to claim certain parts of land in the Northern Territory. -
The Mabo Case
In 1982 Eddie Mabo took the Queensland government to court, claiming that he and his tribe owned the Murray islands.
the case dragged on for 3 years until in 1985 the government passed a law that established native title rights to Torres Strait Islanders did not excist. -
The Mabo Case
In 1988 Eddie Mabo took the case to the high court. the ruled that the new law was illegal. in 1992 the high court ruled that he did actually own the land, unforrtunately Mabo died 4 months befor the ruling. -
High Court Ruling
The Austarlian High Court ruled that Native title rights excisted, but only if the land was not used or leased by the government.
A year later the Keating government passed the Native Title Right Act which established procedures to deal with native title claims. -
Sharing The Land
In 1996 the Hogh Court ruled that the lease holders on the Torres Strait had to share the land with the Wik tribe.
