In June 1992, the High Court of Australia recognised native title
of the Meriam people over parts of the Mer Island in the Torres
Strait as a form of common law. The Court also indicated that native title may have survived
European settlement of the mainland Australia where it had not
been extinguished by Governments and Aboriginal people have
maintained their traditional connection with the land. The decision meant that two systems of land law were seen as
existing side by side in Australia: one which derived from grants from the Crown under laws
passed by Parliament; another which derived from the diverse laws and customs of
the many Aboriginal groups in Australia.