The Mabo Case

The Mabo Case was a landmark legal decision in Australia in 1992 that recognized Indigenous Australians' traditional ownership of their lands. Eddie Mabo and others challenged the Australian government, arguing that land had been unlawfully taken from them. The High Court ruled that Indigenous people had native title rights that predated British colonization, overturning the idea that Australia was 'terra nullius' (land belonging to no one). This case led to important legal reforms, including the Native Title Act, acknowledging the ongoing connection of Indigenous Australians to their land.