The high court has dismissed a Commonwealth appeal in a significant compensation case, serving justice for traditional owners. The ruling means the Commonwealth could potentially compensate the Gumatj clan up to $700 million for bauxite mining at Gove in Arnhem Land. Djawa Yunupingu and Balupalu Yunupingu celebrated outside the court after hearing the judgment, with Djawa acknowledging his late brother, the case’s originator, as the “mastermind.” Gumatj lawyer Sean Bowden described the decision as a “victory for decency and the rule of law,” validating the belief in Aboriginal people’s place in Australia. The court upheld the federal court’s decision that native title is property and its extinguishment must be under “just terms.” The ruling is seen as significant for indigenous land rights and may have broader implications, prompting Sen. Dorinda Cox to call on the government to ensure the Gumatj people receive their compensation.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/12/indigenous-leaders-celebrate-as-court-rejects-appeal-in-landmark-yunupingu-compensation-case