Eddie Mabo Essay

The Fight of Eddie Mabo…
By Tahlia Stewart
Friday, 25th November 2016
What was the land rights before the Eddie Mabo influence?
Eddie Mabo known as one of the greatest Aboriginals in Australian history. He created a phenomenal experience and he changed the life of many aboriginals, as he fought for 23 years (1969-1992) for the aboriginal land rights of Australia. Mabo challenged the High Court of Australia (the Government) because he believed white men stole the land the aboriginals originally had.

Professor Sarah Joseph is a well-known as she is the director of the Human rights law at the Castan centre. She is very focused and interested in her research in the international human rights law and the constitutional law. Professor Joseph was interviewed on her reflections on the Mabo domination, she says, “Mabo reminds us that law can be great. Ultimately, after an 11 year battle that outlived him, Mabo prevailed and terra nullius, a racist and objectively absurd doctrine, was swept away by a 6:1 majority in the High Court. Along the way, a 4:3 majority had struck down the Bjelke Petersen government’s attempt to kill the litigation by retrospectively abolishing native title.”

“Eddie Mabo’s story is a crucial signpost en route to true reconciliation in Australia.

It demonstrated just what can be achieved when determined people join together to make the effort to combat injustice. The Mabo case and its legacy were driven by Mabo the activist, his family and fellow plaintiffs, and a key support cast of lawyers, academics and now film-makers. Food for thought as we lead up to a referendum on the constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians.” Professor Joseph says as she ends her

interview.
Mabo honestly and respectively believed that the white men stole his land. People who supported and fought with Mabo now refers to the aboriginal land as ‘Mabo’s Land’. Mabo was shocked when he found out that the Australian government/law didn’t recognise his fight. While Mabo was fighting for the Aboriginal land rights he was also fighting a personal battle of cancer.

Unfortunately due to the cancer Mabo was not around when the law got realised. He died just five months beforehand. To commemorate there was huge ceremony held for Mabo. Mabo’s body was moved to Murray Island, the land he dedicated his life to. On the third anniversary of the decision a tradition ‘tombstone’ was held a Mabo’s grave in Townsville. He was given this tombstone for his achievements, his accomplished and his effort he put into the campaign he fought. That night his grave was vandalised badly but the people who supported him cleaned it up.
From then till now people (white and black) raise the Australian and the Aboriginal flag together as one.