Exploring the Mabo Case, the Stolen Generation and Reconciliation Both Keating and Rudd's speeches are firmly based on the ideas of recognition and reconciliation for the wrongs committed by European settlers and their descendants, have inflicted on the indigenous Australians. To explore this idea I believe it is necessary to take a closer look at both Eddie Mabo's plight and the stories of the Stolen Generation. The Mabo case Eddie Mabo is widely known for his plight in regaining land rights for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In 1982, he and four other Meriams from Murray Island commenced legal proceedings in the Supreme Court of Queensland claiming customary ownership of their lands on Murray Island. This original application was rejected by the Supreme Court, but instead of backing down Mabo chose to take his case to the High Court of Australia. The basis of his case explores how “‘Australia’ is morally illegitimate to the extent that it rests on European denial of indigenous peoples' prior ownership of the continent…” (Rowse, 1994). His claim presented that a part of Murray Island belonged to his family, as it had been passed down from generation to generation. These areas had been removed from indigenous control during the annexation of Torres Strait in 1879 and Mabo believed that his customary ownership had not been legally extinguished (Rowse, 1994). Ownership of land by the indigenous peoples of Australia has simply been erased under the label of Terra Nullius. The term Terra Nullius causes much pain to indigenous peoples as it can be translated as “A land that belongs to no one” (“Terra Nullius Defined”, 2013). This simply means that the British colonists completely ignore… half of the document… http;//search.proquest.com/docview/223162550?accountid=10675Manne, R. (2001). In denial: the stolen generations and the law. The AustralianQuarterly Essay, 2001(1), p25.National Sorry Day Committee Inc. (2014). An apology to Australia's indigenous peoples. Retrieved from: https://www.nsdc.org.au/events-info/the-apology-to-australias-indigenous-peoplesRowse, T. (1994). After Mabo. Interpreting indigenous traditions. Carlton, Victoria:Melbourne University Press.Terra Nullius defined (2013). Retrieved from http://www.nfsa.gov.au/digitallearning/mabo/tn_01.shtml The Mabo Case and the Native Title Act (1995). Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/[email protected]/Previousproducts/1301.0Feature%20Article21995?opendocument The Mabo decision in the High Court (2014). Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/archives/80days/stories/2012/01/19/3412061.htm