Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Alan Brian Stockwell & Roderick Richard Hill; Clinton Thomas George Rayner; Cape Lambert Iron Ore Ltd; Plasia Pty Ltd; Baracus Pty Ltd

Case

[2007] NNTTA 44

28 May 2007


NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Alan Brian Stockwell & Roderick Richard Hill; Clinton Thomas George Rayner; Cape Lambert Iron Ore Ltd; Plasia Pty Ltd; Baracus Pty Ltd, [2007] NNTTA 44 (28 May 2007)

Application Nos:       WO06/406, WO06/623, WO06/624, WO06/625, WO06/626, WO06/627, WO06/628, WO06/629, WO06/638, WO06/639, WO06/640, WO06/641, WO06/642, WO06/643, WO06/644, WO06/645

IN THE MATTER of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)

-and-

IN THE MATTER of an inquiry into expedited procedure objection applications

Leonne Velickovic on behalf of Widji People – WC98/27 (native title party)

-and-

The State of Western Australia (Government party)

-and-

Alan Brian Stockwell & Roderick Richard Hill (WO06/406)
Clinton Thomas George Rayner (WO06/623)
Cape Lambert Iron Ore Ltd (WO06/624-627)
Plasia Pty Ltd (WO06/628, WO06/629)
Baracus Pty Ltd (WO06/638 to WO06/645) (grantee parties)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS

Tribunal:  Hon C J Sumner, Deputy President
Place:  Perth
Date of dismissal:            listed on the attached schedule
Date of reasons:              28 May 2007

Catchwords:   Native title – future acts – proposed grant of exploration and prospecting licences – expedited procedure objection applications – failure to comply with directions – springing order dismissing expedited procedure objection applications in event of non-compliance – objection applications dismissed

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

Cases:Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Frederick Saunders, NNTT WO05/564, [2006] NNTTA 76 (15 June 2006), Hon C J Sumner

Representative of the        

native title party:               Mr Jerome Frewen, Desert Management Pty Ltd

Representatives of the      Mr Greg Abbott, Department of Industry and Resources
Government party:            Ms Jan Mason, Department of Industry and Resources

REASONS FOR DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS

Background

  1. On the dates specified in the attached schedule, the Government party gave notice under s 29 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) of its intention to grant certain prospecting licences to the grantee parties specified therein and included in the notice a statement that it considered that the grants attracted the expedited procedure.

  2. On the dates specified in the attached schedule, Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People – Native Title Claim No. WC98/27 registered on 15 June 1998 – (‘the native title party’) made expedited procedure objection applications to the Tribunal.

Relevant Facts

  1. In each case the Tribunal made directions on the date specified in the attached schedule requiring all parties to produce contentions and evidence for the conduct of the inquiry to determine whether or not the expedited procedure was attracted. The native title party was to provide a statement of contentions, documentary evidence and witness statements verified where possible by affidavits on or before the dates specified in the attached schedule. The directions imposed a springing order which has the effect of immediately dismissing the objection application pursuant to s 148(b) of the Native Title Act if there is non-compliance by close of business on the due date.  In making the decision to impose the springing order I adopted the Tribunal’s findings in Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Frederick Saunders, NNTT WO05/564, [2006] NNTTA 76 (15 June 2006), Hon C J Sumner at [15] – [21]. The native title party failed to comply by the due date.

Decision

  1. Expedited procedure objection applications specified in the attached schedule are dismissed pursuant to s 148(b) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).

Hon C J Sumner
Deputy President

28 May 2007

SCHEDULE – DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS

Tenement No(s). Date of Govt Party Notification (s 29 notice) Objection Application No. Date Objection Application Lodged

Grantee Party/ies

Date Directions Made Dismissal Date by operation of the Springing Order

P15/4805

30/08/2006

WO06/406

01/09/2006

Alan Brian Stockwell & Roderick Richard Hill

18/09/2006

30/04/2006

P25/1826

22/11/2006

WO06/623

22/11/2006

Clinton Thomas George Rayner

02/03/2007

20/04/2007

P15/4812

22/11/2006

WO06/624

22/11/2006

Cape Lambert Iron Ore Ltd

11/01/2007

12/04/2007

P15/4813

22/11/2006

WO06/625

22/11/2006

Cape Lambert Iron Ore Ltd

11/01/2007

12/04/2007

P15/4814

22/11/2006

WO06/626

22/11/2006

Cape Lambert Iron Ore Ltd

11/01/2007

12/04/2007

P15/4815

22/11/2006

WO06/627

22/11/2006

Cape Lambert Iron Ore Ltd

11/01/2007

12/04/2007

E15/922

22/11/2006

WO06/628

22/11/2006

Plasia Pty Ltd

14/02/2007

12/04/2006

E15/923

22/11/2006

WO06/629

22/11/2006

Plasia Pty Ltd

05/03/2006

12/04/2006

P24/3908

22/11/2006

WO06/638

22/11/2006

Baracus Pty Ltd

18/1/2007

12/04/2007

P24/3909

22/11/2006

WO06/639

22/11/2006

Baracus Pty Ltd

18/1/2007

12/04/2007

P24/3910

22/11/2006

WO06/640

22/11/2006

Baracus Pty Ltd

18/1/2007

12/04/2007

P24/3911

22/11/2006

WO06/641

22/11/2006

Baracus Pty Ltd

18/1/2007

12/04/2007

P24/3912

22/11/2006

WO06/642

22/11/2006

Baracus Pty Ltd

18/1/2007

12/04/2007

P24/3917

22/11/2006

WO06/643

22/11/2006

Baracus Pty Ltd

18/1/2007

12/04/2007

P24/3918

22/11/2006

WO06/644

22/11/2006

Baracus Pty Ltd

18/1/2007

12/04/2007

P26/3246

22/11/2006

WO06/645

22/11/2006

Baracus Pty Ltd

18/1/2007

12/04/2007