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Torres Strait Islander Eddie 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.
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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. A lawyer at the conference suggests there should be a test case on claiming land rights through the court system.
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Eddie Mabo and other Meriam people from the Murray Islands in the Torres Strait lodge a statement of claim in the High Court of Australia. They claim 'native title' rights to the Murray Islands.
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In an attempt to pre-empt the case, the Queensland Government passes the Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory Act 1985 to extinguish the native title rights of the Meriam people to the Murray Islands in the Torres Strait.
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Eddie Mabo and other Torres Strait Islanders challenge the constitutional validity of the Queensland Coast Island Declaratory Act 1985 in the High Court.
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The High Court decides that the Queensland Coast Island Declaratory Act 1985 is inconsistent with the Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act. As a result the original Mabo proceedings could continue. This ruling became known as Mabo vs Queensland (No.1).
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Eddie Mabo dies in Brisbane while being treated for cancer.
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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.
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Parliament enacts the Native Title Act 1993. It addresses the consequences of recognising native title for past actions by governments and sets up rules for future dealings in native title land and waters. The legislation follows lengthy debate and negotiations between Indigenous stakeholders, governments, pastoralists and the mining industry.
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The Native Title Bill is passed by the Senate
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