Angus Riley & May Foster on behalf of the Wirntiku, Milwayijarra & Ngapa groups (DC01/39)/Northern Territory/Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd

[2001] NNTTA 136

NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Angus Riley & May Foster on behalf of the Wirntiku, Milwayijarra & Ngapa groups (DC01/39)/Northern Territory/Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd, [2001] NNTTA 136
(28 November 2001)

Application No:        DO01/89

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

Angus Riley & May Foster on behalf of the Wirntiku, Milwayijarra & Ngapa groups (DC01/39) (native title party)

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The Northern Territory of Australia (Government party)

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Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd (grantee party)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

Tribunal:       Professor Doug Williamson QC
Place:             Darwin
Date:              28 November 2001

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proposed grant of exploration licence – expedited procedure objection application – application for exploration licence withdrawn – objection application dismissed.

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

REASONS FOR DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

1. On 16 May 2001, the Government party gave notice under s 29 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) of its intention to grant Exploration Licence 22670 to Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd (‘the grantee party’) and included in the notice a statement that it considered that the grant attracted the expedited procedure.

1. On 17 September 2001, Angus Riley & May Foster on behalf of the Wirntiku, Milwayijarra & Ngapa groups (‘the native title party’) made an expedited procedure objection application to the Tribunal.

1. The Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development on behalf of the Government party has advised the Tribunal that on 27 November 2001, the exploration licence application made by Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd were discontinued.

Decision

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

Professor Doug Williamson QC

Member
28 November 2001