Recognizing Aboriginal Title: The Mabo Case and Indigenous Resistance to English-Settler Colonialism

To some Australians, the Mabo case threatened to overturn all that had happened since the British arrived in 1788. But to others, it was a long overdue acknowledgment of historic injustices. The author gives us the background behind Mabo. Chronicling years of effort by Aboriginal activists to assert some residue of native title. It's not a cheery read. Much is explained of the parlous conditions under which many Aborigines labour; especially those still in rural tribal environments. Still, the account shows how persistent efforts led to a seminal decision by the High Court. The book does not describe the aftermath. In the few years since it came out, little has changed in the typical Aboriginal condition.