Albert Little and Others on Behalf of the Badimia People (WC96/98)/Western Australia/Hill 50 Gold Nl

[2000] NNTTA 293

NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Albert Little and others on behalf of the Badimia People (WC96/98)/Western Australia/Hill 50 Gold NL, [2000] NNTTA 293 (11 August 2000)

Application No:        WO00/168

IN THE MATTER of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)

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

Albert Little and others on behalf of the Badimia People (WC96/98) (native title party)

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The State of Western Australia (Government party)

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Hill 50 Gold NL (grantee party)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

Tribunal:       The Hon C. J. Sumner
Place:             Perth
Date:              11 August 2000

Catchwords: Native Title – future act – expedited procedure objection application – proposed grant of an exploration licence – application for exploration licence withdrawn – objection application dismissed.

Legislation:Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) s 148(a)

REASONS FOR DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

On 26 January 2000, the Government party gave notice of its intention to grant exploration licence 59/959 to Hill 50 Gold NL (‘the grantee party’) and included in the notice a statement that it considered that the grant attracted the expedited procedure.

On 3 March 2000, Albert Little and others on behalf of the Badimia People (WC96/98) (‘the native title party’) made an expedited procedure objection application to the Tribunal.

The Department of Minerals and Energy on behalf of the Government party has advised the Tribunal that on 26 July 2000, the exploration licence applications made by Hill 50 Gold NL was discontinued.

Decision

There is no longer any proposal from the Government to do a future act and accordingly the objection application is dismissed pursuant to s 148(a) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (as amended).

Hon C. J. Sumner
Deputy President

11 August 2000