Coe v the Commonwealth of Australia

The applicant, Mr. Coe, sought leave to appeal to the High Court of Australia against a decision of the Federal Court. The dispute concerned Mr. Coe's claim of Aboriginal sovereignty over certain lands, which he alleged constituted a trespass by the Commonwealth of Australia.

The central legal issue before the High Court was whether the applicant's claim of Aboriginal sovereignty, as asserted in the context of a trespass action, was arguable in law, particularly in light of the High Court's decision in *Mabo v Queensland (No 2)*.

The High Court, in dismissing the application for leave to appeal, implicitly found that the applicant's claim of Aboriginal sovereignty, as presented, did not raise a reasonably arguable question of law warranting appellate review. The Court's decision to dismiss the application with costs indicates that the claim was considered to be without merit or lacking in legal substance.