Defending the Defenceless : Indigenous Self-Determination and Legal Services in Australia

Foreword by Gary Foley.

For generations, Indigenous peoples in Australia have faced systemic barriers to justice and are often denied the right to determine their own legal and cultural futures. Defending the Defenceless is a powerful exploration of Indigenous self-determination within the legal system, offering a deeply personal and critical perspective on the intersection of law, identity and advocacy.

Drawing from lived experience, community leadership and academic expertise, Eddie Cubillo examines the challenges and triumphs of Indigenous legal services, exposing the structural inequalities that persist while highlighting pathways toward meaningful change. Through innovative methodologies and compelling storytelling, this book is both a vital scholarly contribution and an urgent call to action.

Engaging, thought-provoking and deeply rooted in the realities of Indigenous justice, Defending the Defenceless is essential reading for scholars, legal practitioners, policymakers and anyone committed to truth, justice and Indigenous rights in Australia.