PBC National Snapshot

Website with overview of PBCs and ability to search for PBCs.

It has been more than 25 years since the historic Mabo decision which recognised the native title rights and interests of the Meriam people, traditional owners of the Murray Islands (which include the islands of Mer, Dauer and Waier) in the Torres Strait. The judgments of the High Court in the Mabo case inserted the legal doctrine of native title into Australian law and recognised the fact that Indigenous peoples had lived in Australia for thousands of years and enjoyed rights to their land according to their own laws and customs. Those rights survived and are now recognised and protected by the Australian Legal system.

Following the decision in Mabo vs Queensland (No 2) 1992 HCA 23, the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (NTA) established a statutory regime for claiming and recognising native title land in Australia. Provided is a snapshot of the native title sector after Mabo.