Editing History of Nauru (section)

==Independence==
Nauru became self-governing in January 1966. The [[Parliament of Australia]] passed the ''[[Nauru Independence Act 1967]]'' on 10 November 1967, which granted Nauru independence on a date fixed by proclamation by the [[Governor-General of Australia]] and authorised the Legislative Council of Nauru to establish a constitutional convention.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/num_act/nia19671031967204/nia19671031967204.pdf|title=Nauru Independence Act 1967|publisher=AUSTLII|access-date=8 October 2024}}</ref> On 31 January 1968, following a two-year constitutional convention, Nauru became the world's smallest independent [[republic]]. It was led by founding president [[Hammer DeRoburt]]. In 1967, the people of Nauru purchased the assets of the British Phosphate Commissioners, and in June 1970, control passed to the locally owned [[Nauru Phosphate Corporation]]. Money gained from the exploitation of phosphate was put into the [[Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust]] and gave Nauruans the second highest GDP Per Capita (second only to the [[United Arab Emirates]]) and one of the highest standards of living in the [[Third World]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7296832.stm Nauru seeks to regain lost fortunes] Nick Squires, 15 March 2008, BBC News Online. Retrieved 16 March 2008.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-03-31-mn-18785-story.html|title=Tiny Pacific Isle's Citizens Rich, Fat and Happy – Thanks to the Birds|date=1985-03-31|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref>

In 1989, Nauru took legal actions against Australia in the [[International Court of Justice]] over Australia's actions during its administration of Nauru. In particular, Nauru made a legal complaint against Australia's failure to remedy the environmental damage caused by phosphate mining.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Certain Phosphate Lands: Nauru v. Australia |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2203821 |journal=The American Journal of International Law |volume=87 |issue= |pages=282–288 |doi=10.2307/2203821 |jstor=2203821 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511143145/http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?p1=3&p2=3&code=naus&case=80&k=e2 |archive-date=2011-05-11 }}</ref> ''Certain Phosphate Lands: Nauru v. Australia'' led to an out-of-court settlement to rehabilitate the mined-out areas of Nauru.

By the close of the twentieth century, the finite phosphate supplies were fast running out. Nauru finally joined the UN in 1999.