Aboriginal Groups Win Legal Fight for 7,500 Kilometres of Land

The Indigenous people of central Queensland have been awarded title over their ancestral land after a Federal Court ruling. Three groups, the Barada, Kabalbara and Yetimarala Peoples now have the right to “possess, occupy, use and enjoy the lands and waters” of the vast 7,512 square kilometre (4667 square miles) plot of land. The plot comprises two areas, the first covering a stretch between Sarina in the Mackay region, and the second north of Rockhampton. In Australia, Native Title refers to legally recognising Indigenous Australians’ traditional rights and interests in land and water. The Native Title Act 1993 was established following the landmark Mabo v Queensland (No 2) decision in 1992, which overturned the concept of terra nullius and recognised the pre-existing rights of Indigenous people....