Chubby Jones and Others (WC98/69)/Western Australia/Sipa Exploration Nl

[2000] NNTTA 180

NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Chubby Jones and Others (WC98/69)/Western Australia/Sipa Exploration NL, [2000] NNTTA 180 (1 May 2000)

Application No:        WO99/623

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

Chubby Jones and Others (WC98/69) (native title party)

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The State of Western Australia (Government party)

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Sipa Exploration NL (grantee party)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

Tribunal:       The Hon C. J. Sumner
Place:             Perth
Date:              1 May 2000

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

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

REASONS FOR DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

On 8 September 1999, the Government party gave notice of its intention to grant Exploration licence E08/1136 to Sipa Exploration NL (‘the grantee party’) and included in the notice a statement that it considered that the grant attracted the expedited procedure.

On 8 December 1999, Chubby Jones and Others (’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 20 April 2000, the Exploration licence application made by Sipa Exploration NL was discontinued.

Decision

There is no longer any proposal from the Government to do the 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

1 May 2000