Mabo Memoir: Islan Kustom to Native Title

A Mabo Memoir is an insider's comprehensive account of the Mabo litigation (1982-92) that established native title in Australia, written for the layman by the plaintiff s' counsel. Th e author recounts the historical and legal context leading to the commencement of the case in 1982; Eddie Mabo's motivations; the Murray Islanders and their culture; lawyers, judges and witnesses involved; the plaintiff s' claims for recognition of their traditional rights to their land and seas and their strategies over the decade; negotiations with the Commonwealth

government; legal aid hassles; diffi culties and set-backs during the trial conducted in the Queensland Supreme Court; repeated attacks by the Bjelke-Petersen government designed to defeat the case; Eddie Mabo's claims (all rejected at trial) and his premature death; successful claims by the remaining plaintiff s; various hearings in and fi nal success in the High Court; the basic legal rulings in Mabo (No 2); and the case's legacy to current times. Th e book includes numerous maps, photos, court documents, plus extensive notes, index and bibliography.