development of Native Title in Australia

By shadywagner

  • Lodging a statement

    Along with two other Merium people, Eddie Mabo lodged a statement of claim in the High Court in Australia. The claim was to get native title over the Murray Island in the Torres Strait.

  • QLD government attempts to pre-empt the case

    The QLD government passes the QLD Coast Islands Declaratory Act 1985 to extinguish the native title rights of the Meriam people to the Islands.

  • Mabo takes the act to the High Court

    In 1985, Mabo and other members of the Torres Strait Islanders challenge the constitutional validity of the QLD Coast Island Declaratory Act in the High Court

  • The case starts in court

    'The hearing of evidence in the Mabo Case by the Supreme Court continues, partly in Brisbane and partly on Mer Island and Thursday Island in the Torres Strait'- SBS: Native Title

  • Mabo wins against the act

    The High Court decides that the Queensland Coast Island Declaratory Act 1985 is inconsistent with the Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act. This resulted with the ruling became known as Mabo vs Queensland (No.1).

  • The case finishes in court

    'The hearing of evidence in the Mabo Case by the Supreme Court continues, partly in Brisbane and partly on Mer Island and Thursday Island in the Torres Strait.'- SBS: Native Title

  • Mabo (No 2)

    "The High Court Mabo (No 2) recognises that native title is part of Australian land law. The historic decision overturns the doctrine that Australia was terra nullius - a land belonging to no-one. The High Court recognises that the Meriam people were "entitled as against the whole world, to possession, occupation, use and enjoyment of the lands of the Murray Islands."'- SBS Native title

  • Native title act 1993

    Parliament enacts the Native title act 1993. This act adresses the consequences of recognising native title for past actions by givernemnts and sets rules for future dealings.

  • Bill is passed

    Native title bill is passed by the Senate

  • National Native Title Tribunal is established

  • ILC and ATSI fund is established

  • WA v Commonwealth

    The High Court rejects Western Australia's constitutional challenge to the Native Title Act and invalidates Western Australian government's attempt to enact legislation that offered less protection of Indigenous rights (Western Australia v. Commonwealth (1995).

  • Wik people v QLD case

  • The Dunghutti People Consent Determination

    For the first time, native title is determined on the Australian mainland under the Native Title Act, in "The Dunghutti People Consent Determination".

  • Howard gov releases the amended Wik ten point plan

  • Yarmirr v Northern Territory

    This decision was appealed and the appeal was rejected.

  • Fejo v NT

    High Court confirms that any native title which had been conferred to the Larrakia people had been extinguished forever by the grant of freehold title.

  • Amendments are made to the Native Title Act 1993

    the introduction of a registration test for native title claimant applications, changes to the future act scheme, a new scheme for indigenous land use agreements, and a requirement for new native title applications to be filed in the Federal Court and every current application to become a proceeding in the Court.

  • Miriuwung Gajerrong judgment

  • Yorta Yorta v Vic

  • UN, CERD, HRC, CESCR express concern over Indigenous people in Australia

  • Cth appeal against Croker Island native title claim is dismissed

  • Yanner v Eaton

  • Lardil v QLD

  • Yorta Yorta

    The High Court grants claimants in the Yorta Yorta case rights to appeal against the Federal Court decision that the 'tide of history' had washed away their traditional connection and native title rights.

  • Wilson v Anderson

  • Miriuwung and Gajerrong peoples

    In the Miriuwung and Gajerrong peoples' native title case (WA v Ward), the High Court confirms the decisions in Wik - that native title continues to exist on pastoral leases and that the rights of pastoralists prevail over native title rights and interests.

  • Yorta Yorta case

    In the Yorta Yorta case, the High Court upholds the Federal Court's decision that native title had ceased to exist because of a break in the observance of traditional laws and customs.

  • The Federal Court holds in Risk v Nth Territory that native title does not exist around Darwin.

  • Native Title Amendment Act 2007

  • The Native Title Amendment Act 2009

  • The Native Title Amendment Act 2009

  • 500th Indigenous land use agreement

  • The Attorney General announces key native title institutional reforms that focus on improving the efficiency of the native title system.