Reynolds on Aboriginal Sovereignty
Professor Henry Reynolds writes:
'For 200 years Australian law was secured to the rock of terra nullius. One pinioned arm represented property, the other sovereignty. With great courage the High Court recognised native title in the Mabo judgment and released one arm from its shackles. The other remains as firmly secured as ever and seems destined to remain there for some time but in the long run the situation will prove unstable. What is more, the resulting legal pose will become increasingly uncomfortable as time passes.'
'For 200 years Australian law was secured to the rock of terra nullius. One pinioned arm represented property, the other sovereignty. With great courage the High Court recognised native title in the Mabo judgment and released one arm from its shackles. The other remains as firmly secured as ever and seems destined to remain there for some time but in the long run the situation will prove unstable. What is more, the resulting legal pose will become increasingly uncomfortable as time passes.'
Keywords: High Court Decision, 03/06/1992, High Court of Australia, Native Title Act (1993), property law, Reynolds, Henry (Prof.), sovereignty, terra nullius
'Aboriginal Sovereignty', 1996, p 15.
© Allen & Unwin
Source: Reynolds, Henry
© Allen & Unwin
Source: Reynolds, Henry