Qld: Mabo family outraged over website sale

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Qld: Mabo family outraged over website sale

By Nikki Todd

BRISBANE, Aug 8 AAP - Mabo family members are considering establishing their own "realdeal" website to prevent misrepresentation of their father, the late land rights campaignerEddie Koiki Mabo.

The family and indigenous groups were outraged today by a Gold Coast company advertisingthe sale of a registered business, Mabo Australia, along with the internet site www.mabo.com.au.

The site, on the market for $165,000, boasts of being "a very sought after top-levelAustralian domain name" with huge potential for "massive returns".

The site, which carries a disclaimer saying it has no association with the "wonderfulfamily" of Edward Mabo, has links to Aboriginal information on art, health, educationand other issues.

But Eddie Mabo Jnr, the eldest son in the family, said he was disappointed and hadreferred the matter to a solicitor.

"I'm rather disappointed these people are wanting to represent the Mabo family andthere's never been any contact with us," Mr Mabo told AAP.

"It gives us the impression these people are just basically scalpers, they've set somethingup and looking at just the profit of it."

Mr Mabo said to prevent misrepresentation of the Mabo name, the family would establishits own site.

"We're calling on ATSIC to support us in setting up our own site," he said.

"I think it would be of benefit and every member of the Mabo family could then contribute- the public could access us directly. It would give people the real deal I suppose."

Mr Mabo said the website would operate on a non-profit basis.

Members of the wider indigenous community echoed the family's concern.

Queensland ATSIC Commissioner Terry O'Shane described the sale proposal as outrageous.

"This is a name that belongs to us in such a way that it is very, very sacred and peoplehave no right at all (to use Mabo's name)," he said.

Eddie Mabo is recognised as the father of native title after he posthumously won anhistoric High Court battle 10 years ago recognising the traditional ownership of the land.

The decision overturned the doctrine of terra nullius - the legal fiction that Australiahad no lawful owners before Europeans arrived.

A spokesman for AU Domain Registration, which regulates domain names in Australia,told ABC Radio the Gold Coast firm was entitled to the website licence as the word Maboappeared in the business name up for sale.

The Gold Coast company has declined to comment.

AAP nt/sc/las/sb

KEYWORD: MABO NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)