Territorial Integrity

Despite developments in the law, and more critical attitudes to colonisation and empire, the international community of States is still unwilling to undo past takeovers, or to disturb existing national boundaries.

And the High Court of Australia went out of its way in the Mabo decision to state that the Crown's acquisition of sovereignty over Australia cannot be challenged in an Australian court.

The High Court was, however, willing to reconsider the consequences of that takeover for the pre-existing land rights of Australia's indigenous people.

• Terra Nullius Defined
• International Law
• Colonisation
• Human Rights
• Takeovers
• Bases For Takeovers
• Justifications
• Barbarism
• Hierarchies Of Land Use
• Recent Changes To International Law
• Territorial Integrity
• The Common Law Of England
• Common Law Rules For New English Territories
• Settled & Conquered Colonies
• The Status Of The Australian Colonies
• Reception Of English Law
• Sovereignty & Ownership Distinguished
• Other Lands Settled By The British
• Terra Nullius & Australia
• Crown Land
• Gove Case
• The Gove Decision Questioned
• The Mabo Case
• The Mabo Decision
• Britain's Acquisition Of Sovereignty
• Pre-Existing Land Rights
• The Doctrine Of Tenures Reconsidered
• Extinguishment Of Native Title
• Sovereignty & Indigenous Self-Government