Gove: forgotten catalyst for native title or are we just where we started? Native title and the mining industry issues in Australia from Gove to the present day

Gove occupies a unique place in Australian mining history as it provides one of the earliest examples of the interaction between the interests of the mining industry, the indigenous population and the Australian legal system. Often cited as the catalyst for the recognition of a native title, the events surrounding the 1968 decision to mine bauxite at the Gove peninsula in the Northern Territory triggered a series of political and legislative changes that have led to the current native title framework. This paper aims to provide an overview of the legislative and industry responses to resolving the traditional differences between the mining industry and indigenous land rights from the early days at Gove through to the present time with particular attention to the extent to which certainty, efficiency and protection have been delivered by each.