Mabo Case Commences
In 1982 Eddie Mabo and four other Islanders filed a writ in the High Court of Australia.
By claiming customary ownership of their ancestral lands on Murray Island, they were challenging the most fundamental tenet of Australian land law; the doctrine of terra nullius.
Mabo believed it was not the white government's role to grant, or withhold, rights to traditional Aboriginal land. He was determined to establish in the courts that the land had been stolen in the first place.
Mabo was under no illusion about the scale of the task, he and his co-plaintiffs were facing the combined resources of the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments.
He would tell his friends he saw himself as David, challenging Goliath.
...he was crucial...
Image and Text
1989
Mabo Case, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo v Queensland No.1, Meriam culture
...since time immemorial...
Video
annexation, Land Bilong Islanders, Mabo v Queensland No.1, Mer, Murray Island
A Challenge To The Established Law
Topic
Apr, 3, 1987
Canberra, High Court of Australia, native title, Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory Act , 1985 , sovereignty, terra nullius
...a time limit of 3 months...
Video
May, 1989
Great Northern expedition, Land Bilong Islanders, Mabo Case, Mabo v Queensland No.2, Moynihan, Justice Martin, Murray Island, Supreme Court of Queensland
...a formidable task...
Text
1982
Keon-Cohen, Bryan, Mabo Case, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo v Queensland No.2
...Koiki was fighting for his pride...
Text
Mabo Case, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo v Queensland No.1, Mabo v Queensland No.2, Passi, Reverend Dave
...Koiki talked very hard...
Text
Mabo Case, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo v Queensland No.2, Rice, James
...I'm Going To Win...
Text
activism, Mabo, Bonita, Mabo Case, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo v Queensland No.2
...I'm Going To Fight These Bastards...
Text
family, Mabo Case, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Mabo, Gail, Mabo v Queensland No.2
Land Bilong Islanders - Mabo
Topic
Great Northern expedition, land ownership, Mabo Case, Mabo, Edward Koiki, Malo's laws, Mer, Meriam culture, Moynihan, Justice Martin, Murray Island, sea rights
