Mabo Decision Enactment of Native Title

Document Type:Research Paper

Subject Area:Law

Document 1

1 The historical decision that recognized, at last, the primal truth that European settlement led to the dispossession of Indigenous lands; and a fundamental reality that Indigenous cultures deserve legal protection and respect. 2 Consequent to the decision, the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) was authorized,3 which endeavored to codify the effects of the decision and set out a legislative regime under which Australia’s Indigenous people could seek recognition of their native title rights. The Mabo case addressed an action led by Eddie Mabo to determine the legal rights of the Meriam people to land on the islands of Mer in Queensland, the proceedings of which commenced in 1982. The action by Eddie Mabo was a test case concerning the validity of native title; the resultant ruling effectively dispelled the legal myth of terra nullius which had been the basis for the establishment of British sovereignty in Australia.

Sign up to view the full document!

While 25 years have passed since Mabo, the Australian judiciary has been inconsistent in its verdicts, which has formed substantial doubt in native title law. The principal perspective was that there was the presence of a conviction that Torres Strait Islander citizens and the aboriginals might not comprehend the impression of land tenure previous to the onset of British immigrants back in 1788. They also had a perspective that dominion conveyed comprehensive possession of the total land in the new settlement to the leadership. 5 This abolished any existing rights that may have existed previously. Also, the decision was indeed the spinning point for the gratitude of the aboriginals and the Torres Strait Islander citizen’s right. This is because the decision recognized their exclusive connection with the land.

Sign up to view the full document!

Through the help of an advocate who had a clear understanding of the case, they proceeded to the Supreme Court and battled to invalidate the principle of terra nullius together. The fundamental title doctrine nullified terra nullius. In 1993, the parliament of Australia passed a law that recommended the recognition and protection of some individuals’ connection with the land. Enactment of Native Title (Mabo Decision) The fundamental aspect of Mabo decision, therefore, needs to be acknowledged as it was almost defeated before the constitutional title argument even reached the Supreme Court. In response to the proceedings that started in 1982 by James, Mabo regarding the common law native title over the Murray island, the Queensland legislature implemented the Queensland coast island s declaratory act 1985.

Sign up to view the full document!

He was also battling for all the initials to offer them what was lawfully their land. 10Captivating the land to the original and the Torres Strait islander’s individuals would not only abandon them from their terrestrial but would also disturb the link they had with the land and the sections and memories accompanied by it. The complaint of individuals during the hearings in court depicts the true sustenance the citizens had towards Mabo’s effort in battling against the Queensland administration. The chief implication of the decision was to uncover the fact that whatever is documented in the legislative book is not set in stone. This is because it can still be altered or changed completely. It sets the rules for dealing with land and still occurs.

Sign up to view the full document!

14 Today the original land uses agreements set out preparations between native title receptacles and others regarding who can get admittance and use the land in question. The act intended to attain the following major purposes; to provide for the gratitude and fortification of the native title, to establish various manners in which the future occurrences impacting native title may continue and to set standards for the transactions, to inaugurate a contrivance for establishing claims to native title, and to offer for or allow the verification of past acts and intermediate periods acts due to the presence of the native act. The original title at 1993 founds an outline for the fortification and the gratitude of the native title in Australia. The country’s constitutional system recognizes native title act 1993 in various ways.

Sign up to view the full document!

From $10 to earn access

Only on Studyloop

Original template

Downloadable