Alan Jones & Ors on behalf of Ballardong/Western Australia/Greenstone Metals Ltd

[2013] NNTTA 81

NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Alan Jones & Ors on behalf of Ballardong/Western Australia/Greenstone Metals Ltd
[2013] NNTTA 81 (2 July 2013)

Applications No:             WO2012/1165; WO2012/1166; WO2012/1167

IN THE MATTER of the Native Title Act1993 (Cth)

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IN THE MATTER of an inquiry into an expedited procedure objection application

Alan Jones & Ors
on behalf of Ballardong   (native title party)

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The State of Western Australia   (Government party)

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Greenstone Metals Ltd   (grantee party)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

Tribunal:  Member Helen Shurven
Place:  Perth
Date:  2 July 2013

Catchwords:  Native title – future act – proposed grant of exploration licences – expedited procedure objection application – excision of tenements from native title claim – tenements granted – Tribunal has no jurisdiction – objection application dismissed

Legislation:Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) ss 29, 148(a)

Cases:David Daniel & Ors/Western Australia/Raymond J T Butler and Stanley A MacDonald, NNTT WO99/197, [2000] NNTTA 294 (11 August 2000)

Representative of the  

native title party:            Ms Carolyn Fennelle, Southwest Aboriginal Land and Sea Council

Representative of the     

Government party:         Mr Clyde Lannan, Department of Mines and Petroleum

Representative of the     

grantee party:                 Mr Kevin Connell, Austwide Mining Title Management Pty Ltd

REASONS FOR DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

1. On 27 June 2012 the Government party gave notice under s 29 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) of its intention to grant exploration licences E70/4331, E70/4332 and E70/4333 to Greenstone Metals Ltd and included in the notice a statement that it considered that the grants attracted the expedited procedure.

2. On 25 October 2012, Alan Jones & Ors on behalf of Ballardong (WC2000/007) registered from 3 July 2008, made an expedited procedure objection application to the Tribunal.

3. On 24 June 2013 the Government party advised the Tribunal that exploration licences E70/4331, E70/4332 and E70/4333 were granted on 21 June 2013 with the exclusion of all land able to be claimed within claim area WC2000/007.

4. The Tribunal does not have jurisdiction to conduct an inquiry once a grant has been made (David Daniel & Ors/Western Australia/Raymond J T Butler and Stanley A MacDonald, NNTT WO99/197, [2000] NNTTA 294 (11 August 2000), Hon C J Sumner).

Decision

1. Expedited procedure objection applications WO2012/1165, WO2012/1166 and WO2012/1167 in relation to E70/4331, E70/4332 and E70/4333 are dismissed pursuant to s 148(a) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).

Helen Shurven
MEMBER