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Terra Nullius
European settlement of Australia commenced in 1788. Prior to this, Indigenous Australians inhabited the continent and had unwritten legal codes, as documented in the case of the Yirrkala community.
However, the Australians did not have any form of political organization that Europeans could understand as being analogous to their own institutions, and the British could not find recognised leaders with the authority to sign treaties, so treaties were not signed -
Terra Nullius Reinforced
The declaration of Governer Burke ensured that there would be no recognition of Aboriginal rights to land -
Formal Recognition to Native Titles
British colonial office wanted the Australian colonies to give formal recognition to native titles -
Petitioned for Land Rights
Indigenous groups in NSW petitioned for their right to own farms -
Aboriginal Affairs Policy
Gough Witlam established Department of Aboriginal Affairs 1972 -
Aboriginal Tent Embassy
On the 27 January 1972 at 1 a.m. four Aboriginal men (Michael Anderson, Billy Craigie, Tony Coorey and Bertie Williams) arrived in Canberra from Sydney to establish the Aboriginal Embassy by planting a beach umbrella on the lawn in front of Parliament House (now Old Parliament House).The Embassy was established in response to the McMahon Coalition Government's refusal to recognise Aboriginal land rights. -
Aboriginal Land Rights Act
The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act provides the basis upon which Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory can claim rights to land based on traditional occupation. -
Tent Embassy Re-established
Tent embassy re-established on the grounds of old parliament house -
Eddie Mabo court case was won
Eddie Mabo was a Torres Strait Islander who became famous in Australian history for his role in a landmark decision of the High Court of Australia that overturned the legal statute of terra nullius which characterized Australian law with regards to land and title. -
Native Title Act
The Native Title Act 1993 establishes a framework for the protection and recognition of native title. The Australian legal system recognises native title where:
the rights and interests are possessed under traditional laws and customs that continue to be acknowledged and observed by the relevant Indigenous Australians
by virtue of those laws and customs, the relevant Indigenous Australians have a connection with the land or waters
the native title rights and interests are recognised by the co -
Question of Native Title
Question of native title in pastoral leave was raised -
Native Title Amendment Bill
Howard government introduced Native Title Amendment Bill