Documents menu

Thorpe loses bid to take case to international court

From ABC Australia - Online News
12 December 1997

Regional News Service Trial

Aboriginal activist Robert Thorpe has lost his final High Court bid, to have his allegations of Aborginal genocide taken to the International Court of Justice.

He now plans to independently take the case into the international arena, and believes there is a network of supporters overseas who will help him.

Mr Thorpe wanted the High Court to declare that the Commonwealth owed a fiduciary obligation to Aboriginies, based on the harm inflicted on them over the past 200 years.

He also asked the court to order the Commonwealth to take the case to the United Nations' International Court of Justice.

Mr Thorpe says he cannot take his case any further in Australia, but is confident about its future internationally.

"We know where we're going to succeed is in the international court," he said.

"The only time Aboriginal people have ever had any impact is when they've exposed things at an international level.

"Forget about everything else - nothing works. It's that international exposure which brings home the point to Australia."