In 1992 the High Court of Australia recognised the traditional rights of indigenous people to land in the Mabo case. These rights are known as native title. Many people are familiar with freehold and leasehold title to land.
Native title is another form of title to land.
It recognises that Aboriginal people originally owned all of Australia, and that some of these ancient rights have survived. Native title may include rights of ownership, possession, occupation and enjoyment of land. Many mining leases have been issued on pastoral leases since 1994 without taking into account native title. Miners and indigenous people recognise the importance of reaching agreement to enable development to proceed. The Minerals Council of Australia has said it will negotiate and does not support the extinguishment of native title.