List of Australian native title court cases

Native title in Australia is decided principally by the High Court and the Federal Court.

Year Case Court Comment
1971Milirrpum v Nabalco Pty LtdSupreme Court (NT)Overruled by the High Court in Mabo v Queensland (No 2)
1982Koowarta v Bjelke-PetersenHigh CourtThe Racial Discrimination Act 1975 was a valid law
1988Mabo v Queensland (No 1)High CourtQueensland attempt to abolish native title was invalid as inconsistent with the Racial Discrimination Act 1975
1989Harper v Minister for Sea Fisheries [1989] HCA 47, (1989) 168 CLR 314High Court
1992Mabo v Queensland (No 2)High CourtRejected the doctrine of terra nullius and that indigenous land rights continued to exist in Australia
1996Wik Peoples v QueenslandHigh CourtNative title rights could co-exist with statutory pastoral leases
1998Fejo v Northern Territory [1998] HCA 58, (1998) 195 CLR 96High CourtNative title was completely extinguished by a grant of freehold title
1999Yanner v Eaton [1999] HCA 53, (1999) 201 CLR 351High CourtUpheld the right to hunt as a part of native title rights
1999Commonwealth v YarmirrHigh CourtUpheld non-exclusive native title rights to the sea and sea bed
2002Western Australia v WardHigh CourtNative title is a bundle of rights, which may be extinguished one by one
2002Yorta Yorta v VictoriaHigh CourtUpheld a finding that the ‘tide of history’ had ‘washed away’ traditional laws and customs and that the native title claim failed
2003Neowarra v State of Western Australia [2003] FCA 1402Federal Court
2005Sampi v Western Australia [2005] FCA 777Federal Court
2005Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Peoples v VictoriaFederal CourtFirst successful native title claim in south-eastern Australia
2007Gumana v Northern Territory [2007] FCAFC 23Federal Court (Full Court)
2008Bodney v Bennell (Noongar)Federal Court (Full Court)Whether native title continues to exist in and around Perth
2013Akiba v CommonwealthHigh CourtLicensing of fishing activates did not extinguish the relationship of the people to the land nor extinguish the native title right to take fish

References

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