... , in Arnhem Land. The local communities applied to the High Court of Australia to stop the mining leases being granted. In the 150-page judgement it was decided that "communal native title" had never formed part of Australian law. In 1985, the Queensland government had passed the Coast Islands Declaratory Act, which stated that the islands in the Torres Strait, where Murray ... 1 that the Murray Islanders were entitled to possess, occupy, use and enjoy the Murray Islands. In its decision the court acknowledged that common law must recognise the concept of "native title" but the title cou...

• Word Count: 2831
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate