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| Tony Abbott to visit Eddie Mabo's grave during Torres Strait island trip | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The prime minister, Tony Abbott, will visit the resting place of Eddie Mabo, the father of Indigenous land rights. | The prime minister, Tony Abbott, will visit the resting place of Eddie Mabo, the father of Indigenous land rights. |
| Abbott arrived in the Torres Strait on Sunday night to honour his pre-election commitment to spend one week every year in a remote Indigenous community. | Abbott arrived in the Torres Strait on Sunday night to honour his pre-election commitment to spend one week every year in a remote Indigenous community. |
| As his first official business, he’ll travel on Monday to Mer Island, a tiny island in the far east of the Torres Strait island archipelago to visit Mabo’s grave. | |
| Mabo led the landmark high court case that in 1992 handed Indigenous Australians land rights and rejected the doctrine of terra nullius – land belonging to no one. | Mabo led the landmark high court case that in 1992 handed Indigenous Australians land rights and rejected the doctrine of terra nullius – land belonging to no one. |
| Related: Muckaty: our case is like Mabo, our land is ours to protect | Related: Muckaty: our case is like Mabo, our land is ours to protect |
| The decision sparked the drafting of the Native Title Act, which established the legislative framework for claims for rights to traditional land. | The decision sparked the drafting of the Native Title Act, which established the legislative framework for claims for rights to traditional land. |
| The 55-year-old trade unionist did not live to see the outcome of the high court challenge, dying about six months earlier from cancer. | The 55-year-old trade unionist did not live to see the outcome of the high court challenge, dying about six months earlier from cancer. |
| Mer Island, home to 450 locals and eight tribes, is the birth and resting place of Mabo. | Mer Island, home to 450 locals and eight tribes, is the birth and resting place of Mabo. |
| Abbott will tour the community and meet locals before heading to Thursday Island for a ceremonial dinner. | Abbott will tour the community and meet locals before heading to Thursday Island for a ceremonial dinner. |
| Up to eight ministers, including the attorney general, George Brandis, and the health minister, Sussan Ley, are expected to join the prime minister throughout the week. | Up to eight ministers, including the attorney general, George Brandis, and the health minister, Sussan Ley, are expected to join the prime minister throughout the week. |
| It’s the first prime ministerial visit to the region since John Howard travelled to the islands 18 years ago. | It’s the first prime ministerial visit to the region since John Howard travelled to the islands 18 years ago. |