Why terra nullius was an obstacle to achieving the native ttitle?

Terra nullius, meaning "land belonging to no one," was a legal doctrine used by European colonizers to justify the acquisition of land inhabited by Indigenous peoples without treaties or compensation. This concept undermined the recognition of Indigenous land rights and sovereignty, asserting that the land was unoccupied despite the presence of established communities and cultures. As a result, it created significant barriers to achieving native title, as it denied Indigenous peoples' historical connections to their land and dismissed their rights in legal frameworks. Overcoming this doctrine has been crucial for acknowledging and rectifying past injustices related to Indigenous land claims.