Why Is Eddie Mabo Important

Good morning/ afternoon everyone, My name is Maryrose and today I am here to talk to you about Eddie Mabo’s life, his values and experiences throughout his life. I will be discussing the important facts you will need to know as well as the different perspectives indigenous and non-indigenous have about him. As well as why Eddie Mabo is significant to Australia today and why he is an important iconic hero.

Eddie Mabo was born and raised on Murray Island in 1936 in the Torres Strait between Australia and Papua New Guinea. He was raised by his aunty and uncle as his mother had died shortly after his birth. During his early life he was educated about his land, which led him to believe that the Queensland Government owned the land. Mabo was later

Their island in the Torres Strait was at a possible risk of building being built on the island and the indigenous people and Mabo wanted to make sure that didn’t happen and that they could keep it safe. The Meriam people believed that they were the original owners of the land as well as the nearby seas and that the non-indigenous Australians had no land right to the land. The court case took 10 years of fighting by the Meriam people, and most importantly and especially Eddie Mabo. Finally on June 3rd 1992 the Meriam people were announced the true owners of the island and they were granted their land rights. This case gave many other Indigenous people an opportunity in life and gave others courage to stand up for themselves and their land which worried the government as much of the disputed land was being used for profitable purposes. The government eventually passed the native title in which stated that the laws and regulation for the courts follows in future claims. This had all happened in 1993. Many non- indigenous people did not understand why Mabo had put so much effort into all this when it was just land. They did not realize the issue that Mabo was stating, butF why would the non-indigenous people see a problem. They owned the land and that’s all that mattered. The land had belonged to the indigenous people right from the beginning and the Australians had no

Mabo brought a two century old lie to end, the aboriginals did not have the right to their own land nor were they considered a part of society to everyone before the 1788s. Mabo changed that from with his crusade towards the Australian Government and he is recognised for it today. He encouraged many people to do what he did and he helped indigenous people to be recognised again. Mabo did what many indigenous people were afraid of doing, fighting for their land. Mabo had very powerful case to the Queensland Government and was a strong person to try and reclaim his land, which was successful in the end. (change