Introduction
After Captain James Cook arrived on the Australian Continent in 1770 he wrote to the British governance and began the process of labelling Australia as a Terra Nullius.
This WebQuest will take you on a journey do discover the 'ins and outs' of Terra Nullius and help you come to your own conclusions as to whether European Settlers were justified in Labelling Australia a Terra Nullius.
You will look at all perspectives involved and who benefited from this international law, and what was required to enact it.
Task
Your task is to take on the role of a Historian and solve the mystery of who was right in regards to Terra Nullius. Start by writing down as many questions you can think of that relate to this topic, examples are given in the task section.
Were the British right in claiming the Australian Continent under the law of Terra Nullius?
OR
Did the Aboriginal and Torrens Strait Islanders have their land stolen them in an invasion based on an inaccurate assumption?
Process
Using your Historical Skills analyse several documents, webpages and videos to find out as much as you can about Terra Nullius. Some questions to consider are:
1. What Terra Nullius is? What does it mean? What are the conditions for it to apply and who can enact it?
2. How was Terra Nullius used in Australia? Who gained most from it?
3. It wasn't until 1992 that Terra Nullius was finally retracted. How and Why did this happen?
4. What could have happened if the Aboriginal people were recognised as a distinct people with a functioning system of law?
5. How does this history of Terra Nullius impact and relate to modern life and issues? Think about mining companies in central and Western Australia
Task
write down as much information as you can. use your own words in complete sentences and paragraphs.
Resources
Try finding your own resources credible resources using the skills you have learned throughout school. If you're having trouble here are a few links to get you started, copy and paste them into a web browser
http://www.nfsa.gov.au/digitallearning/mabo/tn_01.shtml
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/orgs/car/docrec/policy/brief/terran.htm
http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/Previousproducts/1301.0Feature%20Article21995
Evaluation
After answering the previous questions and working as a Historian briefly explain, in your own words, the history of Terra Nullius and your opinions on it.
Questions to think about.
Why was Terra Nullius established?
What happened to revoke it?
What could have been an alternative to Terra Nullius?
Was it rightfully established?
What should have happened when it was revoked?
What is your overall opinion?
How does it relate to current issues?
Does it influence today's society?
Conclusion
Talk to a Friend about what they found and thought and compare it to yours. Have a small discussion and be ready to share the main points with the class in a whole class discussion.
Credits
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012. The Mabo Case and the Native Title Act. [Online]
Available at: http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/Previousproducts/1301.0Feature%…
[Accessed 27 Jun 2013].
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2014. Australian History Curriculum F-10. [Online]
Available at: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/humanities-and-social-sciences/h…
[Accessed 20 August 2014].
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2014. History Rationale. [Online]
Available at: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/History/Rationale
[Accessed 20 August 2014].
Australian Curriculum, Reporting and Assessment Authority, 2014. Cross-Curriculum Priorities. [Online]
Available at: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/CrossCurriculumPriorities
[Accessed 20 August 2014].
Australian Human Rights Commission, 2014. Corporate Responsibility - Developing principles on Resource Development on Indigenous Land: Human Rights Based Approach to Mining on Aboriginal Land. [Online]
Available at: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/corporate-responsibility-de…
[Accessed 20 August 2014].
Banner, S., 2005. Why Terra Nullius? Anthropology and Property Law in Early Australia. s.l.:Law and History Review.
Central Land Council, 2014. Making agreements on Aboriginal land: Mining and Development. [Online]
Available at: http://www.clc.org.au/articles/info/mining-and-development
[Accessed 20 August 2014].
Holms, D., Hughes, K. & Julian, R., 2012. Australian Sociology A Changing Society. NSW: Pearson.
NFSA, 2013. Mabo: The Native Title Revolution. [Online]
Available at: http://www.nfsa.gov.au/digitallearning/mabo/tn_23.shtml
[Accessed 27 Jun 2013].