1988 -- In Mabo v Queensland ( 1988 ) the High Court of Australia finds that the Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory Act was not valid .
The Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory Act attempted to retrospectively abolish native title rights .
1988 -- In Mabo v Queensland ( 1988 ) the High Court of Australia finds that the Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory Act , which attempted to retrospectively abolish native title rights , was not valid .