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Eddie Mabo ends terra nullius
In the late 18th century Britain claimed the lands of Australia because they assumed nobody owned them. Some Torres Straight Islanders, led by Eddie Mabo, challenged this. Their people had inhabited Murray Island for thousands of years and so were the rightful owners, In 1992 the high court agreed saying that terra nullius was wrong and racist. So the 1993 Native Title act allowed indigenous Australians to claim land rights. -
'Aborigines claim citizen rights' was circulated.
This declaration was the first time Aboriginal people had made a national protest. -
freedom riders demand equal treatment.
a group lead by aboriginal activist Charles Perkins made a bus tour through New South Wales. They protested about discrimination in shops, theatres, bars, clubs and swimming pools. -
Gurindji people demand better deal.
200 workers walked off the Wave Hill cattle station in the Northern Territory. They wanted better wages and conditions, and their land back. The Gurindji eventually gained ownership of the area in 1985. -
White voters demand a better deal for first Australians.
After a 90% 'yes' vote the government gave indigenous Australians the right to vote and counted in censuses, and ened the protection policies. -
Aboriginal tent embassy set up in canberra.
The embassy said that blacks were now going to get up and fight back on the issues of education, health, police victimisation, locking up people. -
Land rights to be granted to first australians.
A government commission recommended that aboriginals should get back the land where they now lived. -
First Aboriginal land rights act.
However this Northern Territory law only gave the indigenous people some ares of arid land largely useless land. Other land claims were often thrown out by the courts. -
The Bulletin
250 000 people walked across the Sydney bridge and up to 400 000 marched Melbourne in December. they did this to say sorry to indigenous Australians for past wrongs.