David Allie & Ors (Gudjala People), Alfred Nathan & Ors (Pitta Pitta People/ Queensland/ Ausgold Exploration Pty Ltd; Holloman Minerals Pty Ltd

The case involves the Gudjala People and the Pitta Pitta People who sought to object to the proposed grant of exploration permits for land in Queensland. The respondents were Ausgold Exploration Pty Ltd and Holloman Minerals Pty Ltd. The applicants argued that the permits would infringe upon their native title rights. The case was heard in the Federal Court of Australia. The central issue before the court was whether it had jurisdiction to hear the expedited procedure objection applications under section 29 of the Native Title Act 1993. The applicants argued that the government's withdrawal of its assertion that section 29 applied meant that the court had jurisdiction to hear the objections. The government argued that the court lacked jurisdiction because section 29 no longer applied.

The court found that the government's withdrawal of its assertion that section 29 applied did not change the fact that the court did not have jurisdiction to hear the objections. The court held that section 29 only applied if the government was a party to the proceedings and that since the government was no longer a party, the court did not have jurisdiction. The court further held that even if section 29 did apply, the applicants had not satisfied the requirements of section 30 of the Native Title Act 1993. The court found that the applicants had not demonstrated that there was a reasonable likelihood that their native title rights would be affected by the proposed exploration permits. The court dismissed the objection applications and found that it did not have jurisdiction to hear the matter. The government party's withdrawal of its assertion that section 29 applied did not affect the outcome of the case.