eddie mabo speech transcript eddie mabo speech transcript

Eddie Mabo had challenged the very ideological establishment of Australia and the first Australians. We are still trying to find the words to equal the full measure of Eddie Mabo's devotion. Keating begins by discussing the moral and legal implications of the decision. "It gave us back our pride. On Monday, he laid a wreath on Mr Mabo's grave on Mer Island. These things range from various legal and administrative barriers that are placed on us once a native title determination has been made and includes various tax and regulatory standards placed on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the post determination phase, conflicts between individual and communal property interests and issues arising from the conversion of title. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter', Why half of India's urban women stay at home. The High Court is the highest court in Australia's judicial system. The debate about Mabo's legacy still goes on today, Many indigenous Australians still live in poverty, Bakhmut attacks still being repelled, says Ukraine, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Mother who killed her five children euthanised, Canadian grandma helps police snag phone scammer, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus, Zoom boss Greg Tomb fired without cause. Finally, the remaining key theme of the meeting was the issue of our right as Indigenous peoples to development. Governance has always been at the core of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and our community life. His mother died during childbirth and he was raised by his mother's brother, Benny Mabo . [1] Cast [ edit] Jimi Bani as Eddie Mabo Gedor Zaro as Young Eddie Deborah Mailman as Bonita Mabo (ne Neehow) It is this issue of development that I will explore later in greater detail. The practical effects of Mabo have, indeed, been mixed, judging by figures from the Koori Mail, a national indigenous-owned newspaper. Eddie Mabo was a great hero to the Australian people. He's recorded as saying: "No way, it's not theirs, it's ours." In conversations with Commissioner Wilson and others, we are in the midst of developing what the next step in this process should look like and we will continue to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples such as yourselves in order to do this. On November 16, 1990, after a year of considering the facts of the case, Justice Moynihan delivered his written findings to the High Court of Australia. What did Eddie Mabo say in his speech? British law was the law of the colony and usurped and superseded Aboriginal law. But we know that these scales do not capture the social disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders in Marine Science, Agriculture Technology and Adoption Centre, Association of Australian University Secretaries, Australian Quantum & Classical Transport Physics Group, Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, Division of Tropical Environments and Societies, Foundation for Australian Literary Studies, IERC Administration and Centre Operations, Torres Strait Islander Research to Policy & Practice Hub, Meriba buay ngalpan wakaythoemamay (We come together to share our thinking), Knowledge Integration for Torres Strait Sustainability: Sey boey wara goeygil nabi yangukudupa, Office of the Vice Chancellor and President, Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease, Contextual Science for Tropical Coastal Ecosystems, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, Recognition, national identity and our future. 2008 Presentation by The Hon. In 2014, Australia ranked second after Norway, in the United Nations Human Development Index,[9] a position that would seem to indicate that we all enjoy a quality of life superior to most others in the world. But he was wrong. Eddie Koiki Mabo (c. 29 June 1936 - 21 January 1992 [1]) was an Australian man from the Torres Strait Islands known for his role in campaigning for Indigenous land rights and for his role in a landmark decision of the High Court of Australia which overturned the legal doctrine of terra nullius ("land belonging to nobody") which characterised 1h 43m. To seek justice we had to speak the words of British law. At http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/reports/264/hdr_2003_en_complete.pdf (viewed 9 June 2015). Love, suffering, hope, justice and truth Eddie Mabo knew about love too. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. Mabo rejected the more militant direct action tactics of the land rights movement, seeing the most important goal as being to destroy the legal justification for what he regarded as land theft. As Kevin Mason divedin the ocean, a compliance officer waswatching on the cliffs above. [2] Australian Human Rights Commission, Paper on Indigenous Leaders Roundtable, Property Rights, p4. In my tribute to Rob, I mentioned how losing that fight for national land rights lit the fires for what was to become the fight for native title led by Eddie, with Rob being part of the leadership that negotiated the Native Title Act through the national parliament to give legislative effect to the High Court decision championed by Eddie. During this time he became involved in community and political organisations, such as the union movement and the 1967 Referendum campaign. (No. . Two generations talk about the impact of the 1967 Referendum and the 1992 Mabo Decision . Well, Australia now stands at a moment of history. I also acknowledge the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion who is here today and my colleague Tim Wilson, our Australian Human Rights Commissioner. In 1981, Eddie Mabo made a speech at James Cook University in Queensland, where he explained his people's beliefs about the ownership and inheritance of land on Mer. Reynolds struck up a friendship with Eddie Mabo, who was then a groundsman and gardener at James Cook University. Watch all your favourite ABC programs on ABC iview. SPEECH - THURSDAY, 3 JUNE . He also co-operated with members of the Communist Party, the only white political party to support Aboriginal campaigns at the time. Eddie Mabo at James Cook University, early 1980s Series 8. Some records include terms and views that are not appropriate today. But that hasn't stopped indigenous people, like Queensland elder Douglas Bon, taking great satisfaction in the ruling. For Indigenous peoples around the world, the Declaration has been a means by which they can free themselves from the shackles of colonialism and share equitably in the benefits of development.[8]. I honour your Elders that have come before you, those that are here today and I wait in optimistic anticipation for those Elders who are yet to emerge. Eddie's daughter, Gail Mabo remembers that day well. But the . I walked into the news meeting at the ABC with words. It remains a collection of canvas and tin, but it has grown in those years since a handful of young Aboriginal activists planted a beach umbrella and wrote the word Embassy on a manila folder, to shake a fist at the power on the hill. Uncle Edward 'Koiki' Mabo was born in 1936, in Las on the island of Mer (Murray Island) in the Torres Strait to 'Robert' Zesou Sambo and 'Annie' Poipe, ne Mabo. From 1973-1983 he established and became director of the Black Community School in Townsville. Typical of such awards, the citations are generally understated and this is particularly so in your case. And these were the costs borne by the whole family. Born in 1936, he grew up in the village of Las on the north bend of Mer Island. While working as a gardener at James Cook University, he found out through two historians that, by law, he and his family did not own their land on Mer. By continuing to use this site, you are giving us consent to do this. "The High Court, which is not elected by anybody, not accountable to anybody, had presumed to move into the legislative area to make a whole new law," he said. 2006 Presentation by Professor Larissa Behrendt. Some went further, fuelling the hysteria with unsubstantiated claims - Jeff Kennett, then the premier of Victoria, said suburban backyards could be at risk of takeover by Aboriginal people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this site may contain names, images or voices of people who have passed away. The earliest papers on the Murray Island land claim are a manuscript and typescript of a speech by Mabo at the Land Rights and Future of Australian Race Relations Conference at James Cook University in 1981. It was also a flagrant disregard of Britain's own existing laws, which stated that the Aboriginal people did have title rights over their own land. The court dismissed his challenge to Australian sovereignty, but in his opinion Justice Lionel Murphy rattled the bones of the Australian settlement. " They can raise us to anger then soothe us. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/eddie-mabo-lecture-stan-grant-terra-nullius-gerard-brennan/101126466, The man who 'took on the government' and won, Supplied: Australian Institute of Marine Science/Ray Berkelmans, Kevin was fishing for his family when he was confronted by a 'compliance officer', Australia's biggest drug bust: $1 billion worth of cocaine linked to Mexican cartel intercepted, Four in hospital after terrifying home invasion by gang armed with machetes, knives, hammer, 'We have got the balance right': PM gives Greens' super demands short shrift, Crowd laughs as Russia's foreign minister claims Ukraine war 'was launched against us', The tense, 10-minute meeting that left Russia's chief diplomat smoking outside in the blazing sun, 'Celebrity leaders': Mike Pompeo, Nikki Haley take veiled jabs at Donald Trump in CPAC remarks, Hong Kong court convicts three members of Tiananmen vigil group for security offence, as publisher behind Xi biography released, 'How dare they': Possum Magic author hits out at 'ridiculous' Roald Dahl edits, Vanuatu hit by two cyclones and twin earthquakes in two days, the colonists not the Aborigines are the foreigners, Justice Lionel Murphy rattled the bones of the Australian settlement, Ngunnawal traditional owners announce plans to lodge native title claim over ACT and parts of NSW, These men have 'unfinished business' with native title and their case could change Australia, Gail Mabo was with her newborn son when she learnt her father had corrected history 30 years ago, Former High Court Chief Justice who wrote lead judgement on Mabo decision dies one day before its 30th anniversary, Rare sighting of bird 'like Beyonce, Prince and Elvis all turning up at once', Emily was studying law when she had to go to court. Mabo's love for his homeland drove the proud Torres Strait Islander to undertake a 10- year legal battle that rewrote Australia's history. Mabo died five months earlier from cancer in January 1992, at the age of 55. But despite the success of the '67 campaign, in 1972 Eddie Mabo still had to get permission from the Queensland authorities to visit his dying father on Mer Island. Elders saythe wateris now a battleground. 2023 BBC. In 1959, he moved to mainland Queensland, working on pearling vessels and as a labourer. The fall of the golden house of is but not the end. Les Malezer, chairman of the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action, is critical of the native title system for its failure to deliver for indigenous people. Court cases in the mid-19th century challenged the idea of British settlement at the time the rulings were in favour of the Crown. Eddie Mabo would not live to see his final victory, but in that judgement he became immortal. Mabo said was that it is my fathers & grandfather's, grandmother's land, I am related to it, it is my identity. The justices spoke of a legacy of "unutterable shame"and that the dispossession of Indigenous people was the darkest aspect of Australia's history. He knew about hope and he knew about justice. Eddie Mabo knew about love too. On this great day, I, Prime Minister of Australia, speak to you on behalf of the Australian people all those who honour and love this land we live in. Then, in June 1992, the years of sacrifice and persuasion came to fruition. Eddie Mabo was a staff member at JCU, working as a groundsman from 1967 to 1971. It was on 3 June 1992 that the Australian High Court overturned more than 200 years of white domination of land ownership. You Murray Islanders have won that court case. Mabo: Life of an Island Man is a 1997 Australian documentary film on the life of Indigenous Australian land rights campaigner Eddie Koiki Mabo.. In his book Why Weren't We Told?, Reynolds describes the talks they had regarding Mabo's people's rights to their lands, on Murray Island, in the Torres Strait. According to accounts of the conversation, the two scholarly figures looked at each other and then, delicately, told Mabo that he didn't own the land and that it was Crown land. Eddie Koiki Mabo: Land Rights in the Torres Strait I would like to first of all express my sincere thanks to the organizers of this conference: in particular the James Cook University Student Union and the Aboriginal Treaty Committee in Townsville for allowing me to speak at this very important conference. But who was Eddie Mabo, why did he take up what must have seemed like a hopeless cause and what is the legacy of his campaign? This link is the basis of the ownership of the soil, or better, of sovereignty., "This is the torment of our powerlessness.". Searching for 'Mabo' in RecordSearch brings up many results, including the files below. "If ever a system could be called a government of laws," he said, "it is shown in the evidence before me.". OM95-26 Mabo Cutting Books 1990-1994 - (2 vols.) The nation remained diminished. He is best known for the two court cases that bear his name, Mabo v. Queensland (numbers 1 and 2). This push for economic independence has sought to move away from models of government dependency and have been premised largely on the use of our land as the basis to achieve this. Suggested answer: While working as a grounds keeper at James Cook University in Townsville, Eddie learnt about Australian land ownership laws. He was another victim of Terra Nullius, like so many of his fellow indigenous people had been before him. When I looked over the lives of these two great Australians I was struck by the similarities of their struggles and the qualities they each . A documentary, Mabo: Life of an Island Man, directed by Trevor Graham, was released in 1997 and received the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Documentary. Mabo's credibility as the primary witness for the case was savaged . I was no lawyerbut I knew I sensed this was different. Mabo vs Queensland possible Commonwealth interventions, 1991 (A14039, 7909), The Mabo Decision principles for a response, 1993 (A14217, 1042), Mabo responses to the outline of legislation, 1993 (A14217, 1322), Mabo collection at the National Library of Australia, Building trust in the public record policy, Getting started with information management. Husband, father, grandfather, mate, advocate, achiever, Principal and mentor. (2014 lecture transcript), 2013 Presentation by Dr Bryan Keon-Cohen QC. I have heard many stories from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and Traditional Owners about the many barriers they face in reaching their potential benefits under land rights and native title. In particular, this was raised as a way that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities might be able to leverage finances in order to support economic development opportunities and to improve the capacity of our mobs to best manage these prospects in the future. Gail, to your Mum Bonita, to Eddie Junior, Wannee, Bethal, Celuia, Ezra, Mario, Malita, Malcolm, Jessie and to you Gail, can I pay special tribute to for the generosity of you all in giving your husband and Dad to us. [12] Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), preamble. Stan Grant is the ABC's international affairs analyst and presents China Tonight on Monday at 9:35pm on ABC TV, and Tuesday at 8pm on the ABC News Channel, anda co-presenter of Q+A on Thursday at 8:30pm. When I looked over the lives of these two great Australians I was struck by the similarities of their struggles and the qualities they each share. This often presents internal issues for traditional owner groups about how decisions are made and how benefits will be shared and responsibilities exercised. In 1994 the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) was established in response to Read More That word is emblazoned still at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy on the lawns of the Old Parliament House in Canberra. The conference, 'Land Rights and the Future of Australian Race Relations', was sponsored by the Townsville Treaty Committee and the James Cook University's Student Union. They then said to tell you they are aware of your continued fight for your culture and your country and salute you for your ongoing struggle. Fungibility and native title. They ruled that the Mabo decision in no way challenges the legality of non-Aboriginal land tenure. A decade later, I was a young reporter still in my early 20s, finding my way into the foreign world of journalism when I saw a listing for a case at the High Court. I had read about the case as it moved through the lower courts. Mabo v Queensland (No 1) was heard in 1986and 1988. You may have heard that Tim Wilson, Human Rights Commissioner and I recently co-convened a roundtable on Yawuru country on the issue of Indigenous property rights. 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