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AustraliaIn 1982, Eddie Koiki Mabo, a native leader of Murray Island just north ofQueensland, stood in Australia’s High Court. He and several neighbors sought legalrights to land their ancestors had occupied for generations. The islanders disputedthe claim of terra nullius (land belonging to no one), which was the concept usedby the British Crown to possess the Australian continent. It took 10 years, but onJune 3, 1992, the Court ruled that the islanders were entitled to the “possession,occupation, use and enjoyment” of their land. The Mabo decision changed therelationship between Aboriginal natives and European settlers. For the first time,Aboriginal people could claim title to land that they believed was rightfully theirs.In response to the High Court decision, the Australian government enacted theNative Title Act of 1993. During its passage through Parliament, Australia’s PrimeMinister said, “. . . we give the indigenous people of Australia, at last, the standingthey are owed; as original occupants of this continent . . . as workers, soldiers,explorers, artists, sportsmen and women, . . . as people who have survived the lossof their land and the shattering of their culture.” Here’s a snapshot of Australia.Geographical area 2,966,153 sq. mi.Population 19,546,792CapitalCanberraLegal systemBased on Englishcommon lawLanguageEnglish, indigenouslanguagesReligion87% ChristianLife expectancy 80 yearsCritical Thinking Question The Aboriginal people will never reclaim all the land thatbelonged to their ancestors. Think of several ways the Australian government mighthelp compensate them for their loss. For more information on Australia, visitubpl.glencoe.com or your local library.If a landlord doesn’t want a tenant to assign or sublet the property,a covenant in the lease must say that. Otherwise, a tenant may eitherassign or sublet the property to someone else. However, the originaltenant is still responsible to the landlord for the rent.Chapter 33: Renting a Place to Live 717