On the third day of Eddie Mabo’s historic land rights claim in the High Court, chief justice Anthony Mason decided the plaintiffs needed some help from the bench.
It was just after midday on May 30, 1991, and Ron Castan, QC, had been on his feet for more than two days arguing that Mabo and others held “native title” over plots of land on Murray Island, in the Torres Strait.
Michael PellyLegal editorMichael Pelly is the legal editor, based in our Sydney newsroom. He has been a senior adviser to federal and state attorneys-general and written two books, one a biography of former High Court Chief Justice Murray Gleeson. Email Michael at michael.pelly@afr.com
