Glenn Derrick Councillor & Ors on behalf of Naaguja; Frederick Taylor & Ors on behalf of Amangu/Western Australia/Gascoyne Resources WA Pty Ltd

[2013] NNTTA 61

NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Glenn Derrick Councillor & Ors on behalf of Naaguja; Frederick Taylor & Ors on behalf of Amangu/Western Australia/Gascoyne Resources WA Pty Ltd [2013] NNTTA 61 (24 May 2013)

Applications No:             WO2012/0597 & WO2012/0603

IN THE MATTER of the Native Title Act1993 (Cth)

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

Glenn Derrick Councillor & Ors on behalf of Naaguja &
Frederick Taylor & Ors on behalf of Amangu            (native title party)

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The State of Western Australia   (Government party)

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Gascoyne Resources WA Pty Ltd  (grantee party)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

Tribunal:  Member Daniel O’Dea
Place:  Perth
Date:  23 May 2013

Catchwords:  Native title – future act – proposed grant of exploration licence – expedited procedure objection application – excision of tenement from native title claim – tenement granted – Tribunal has no jurisdiction – objection application dismissed

Legislation:Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) ss 29, 148(a)

Cases:David Daniel & Ors/Western Australia/Raymond J T Butler and Stanley A MacDonald, NNTT WO99/197, [2000] NNTTA 294 (11 August 2000)

Representative of the  

native title party:            Marcus Fort, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation

Representative of the     

Government party:         Mr Clyde Lannan, Department of Mines and Petroleum

Representative of the     

grantee party:                 Eldon Stone, Anderson Tenement Management

REASONS FOR DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

1. On 25 January 2012 the Government party gave notice under s 29 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) of its intention to grant exploration licence E70/4106 to Gascoyne Resources WA Pty Ltd and included in the notice a statement that it considered that the grant attracted the expedited procedure.

2. On 22 May 2012 Glenn Derrick Councillor & Ors on behalf of Naaguja & Frederick Taylor & Ors on behalf of Amangu, made expedited procedure objection applications to the Tribunal.

3. On 21 May 2013 the Government party advised the Tribunal that exploration licence E70/4106 was granted on 20 May 2013 on the basis that the excision of all land capable of supporting native title rights would enable that action to occur.

4. The Tribunal does not have jurisdiction to conduct an inquiry once a grant has been made (David Daniel & Ors/Western Australia/Raymond J T Butler and Stanley A MacDonald, NNTT WO99/197, [2000] NNTTA 294 (11 August 2000), Hon C J Sumner).

Decision

1. Expedited procedure objection applications WO2012/0597 and WO2012/0603 in relation to E70/4106 are dismissed pursuant to s 148(a) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).

Daniel O’Dea
MEMBER
24 May 2013