Freight Terminals Pty Ltd v State of Queensland

Case [2015] FCA 995


FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Freight Terminals Pty Ltd v State of Queensland [2015] FCA 995

Citation: Freight Terminals Pty Ltd v State of Queensland [2015] FCA 995
Parties: FREIGHT TERMINALS PTY LTD v STATE OF QUEENSLAND
File number: QUD 404 of 2014
Judge: REEVES J
Date of judgment: 21 August 2015
Catchwords: NATIVE TITLE – non-claimant application under s 61(1) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) – where the applicant holds a non-native title interest in the subject land – where the notices required under s 66 of the Act have been given – where the application is unopposed – where there are no registered native title claims affecting the subject land – where there is no expressed interest in claiming native title in the subject land – determination that no native title exists on the subject land
Legislation: Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)
Cases cited: Blackwater Accommodation Village Pty Ltd v State of Queensland [2011] FCA 355
Hillig as Administrator of Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council v NSW Native Title Services Ltd [2006] FCA 1184
Kanak v Minister of Land & Water Conservation (2000) 106 FCR 31; [2000] FCA 1105
Date of hearing: 21 August 2015
Place: Brisbane
Division: GENERAL DIVISION
Category: Catchwords
Number of paragraphs: 4
Solicitor for the Applicant: Mr Perry Russell, Creevey Russell Lawyers
Solicitor for the Respondent: Ms Carrie Tobler, Crown Law

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

QUEENSLAND DISTRICT REGISTRY

GENERAL DIVISION

QUD 404 of 2014

BETWEEN:

FREIGHT TERMINALS PTY LTD
Applicant

AND:

STATE OF QUEENSLAND
Respondent

JUDGE:

REEVES J

DATE OF ORDER:

21 AUGUST 2015

WHERE MADE:

BRISBANE

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1.No native title exists in relation to Lot 170 on Crown Plan AG460, County of Aubigny, Parish of Toowoomba, as shown in the annexures to these orders marked “A” and “B”.

Note:    Entry of orders is dealt with in Rule 39.32 of the Federal Court Rules 2011.




IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

QUEENSLAND DISTRICT REGISTRY

GENERAL DIVISION

QUD 404 of 2014

BETWEEN:

FREIGHT TERMINALS PTY LTD
Applicant

AND:

STATE OF QUEENSLAND
Respondent

JUDGE:

REEVES J

DATE:

21 AUGUST 2015

PLACE:

BRISBANE

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

  1. The applicant has applied under s 61(1) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (the Act) for a determination that no native title exists on Lot 170 on Crown Plan AG460, County of Aubigny, Parish of Toowoomba, comprising an area of 1.82 hectares.

  2. I have read the submissions dated 1 July 2015 made on behalf of the applicant and the affidavit and other materials referred to therein, including the previous decisions of this Court:  see Kanak v Minister of Land & Water Conservation (2000) 106 FCR 31; [2000] FCA 1105; Blackwater Accommodation Village Pty Ltd v State of Queensland [2011] FCA 355; and Hillig as Administrator of Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council v NSW Native Title Services Ltd [2006] FCA 1184. Having done so, I am satisfied of the following matters:

    (a)that the applicant holds a non-native title interest in the whole of the subject land for the purpose of ss 61(1) and 253 of the Act;

    (b)the notices required by s 66 of the Act have been duly given;

    (c)the application is unopposed;

    (d)there are no registered native title claims affecting the subject land, and the two that previously existed have either been struck out or discontinued; and

    (e)no one has expressed an interest in claiming native title in relation to the subject land.

  3. I am, therefore, satisfied that the Court has power under s 86G of the Act to make the order sought.

  4. Accordingly, I order that no native title exists in relation to Lot 170 on Crown Plan AG460, County of Aubigny, Parish of Toowoomba, as shown in the annexures to these reasons marked “A” and “B”.

I certify that the preceding four (4) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Reeves.

Associate:

Dated:       9 September 2015

Details
AGLC
Freight Terminals Pty Ltd v State of Queensland [2015] FCA 995
Case
[2015] FCA 995
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Freight Terminals Pty Ltd applied for a declaration under section 61(1) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) that no native title exists in relation to certain land. The State of Queensland did not oppose the application. The Federal Court was required to determine whether native title existed on the subject land.

The court considered the statutory provisions and previous case law concerning the declaration of the absence of native title. The court noted that the applicant held a non-native title interest in the land and that the required notices under section 66 of the Act had been given. The application was unopposed, and there were no registered native title claims affecting the land. Additionally, there was no expressed interest in claiming native title over the subject land.

The court concluded that, based on the absence of registered native title claims, the lack of expressed interest in claiming native title, and the unopposed nature of the application, it was appropriate to determine that no native title existed on the subject land. The court made the declaration as sought by the applicant.

The court ordered that no native title exists in relation to Lot 170 on Crown Plan AG460, County of Aubigny, Parish of Toowoomba. This order was marked in the annexures to the court’s orders as "A" and "B".

Orders

Orders of the court

1. No native title exists in relation to Lot 170 on Crown Plan AG460, County of Aubigny, Parish of Toowoomba, as shown in the annexures to these orders marked “A” and “B”.

Note: Entry of orders is dealt with in Rule 39.32 of the Federal Court Rules 2011.

Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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