Native title in North and Far North Queensland Thirty Years Post-Mabo

• Published in: James Cook University law review Vol. 28; pp. 111 - 121
• Main Author: Chris Davies
• Format: Journal Article
• Published: Townsville, Qld James Cook University of North Queensland, Faculty of Law 01-01-2022
• Subjects: Aboriginal Australians; Anniversaries; Fire management; James Cook University; Mabo, Eddie; Native title (Australia); Social life and customs
• ISSN: 1321-1072

The 30th Anniversary of the Mabo decision was a central theme to James Cook University's 2022 Mabo Lecture. This article develops this theme further by examining the native title cases in North and Far North Queensland from the previous five years. These cases involved successful claims in the Townsville and Cardwell regions, as well as in Cape York and the Gulf of Carpentaria. Claims are on-going in the Cairns region, and also for some islands in the Torres Strait. The rights granted in these successful claims included hunting, gathering, access, camping, the carrying out of ceremonies and maintaining sites. Any water rights were restricted to domestic use and the use of fire was likewise restricted to domestic use, such as cooking. The fact that there were a number of successful claims in North and Far Northern Queensland highlights the ongoing significance of 'Mabo'.