Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Johannes Marek; Philip Henry Buswell; Kenneth John Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges; Ian Roger Ainsworth, John Walter Davey; Donul Thomas Kidson;...

Case

[2006] NNTTA 161

19 December 2006


NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Johannes Marek; Philip Henry Buswell; Kenneth John Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges; Ian Roger Ainsworth, John Walter Davey; Donul Thomas Kidson; Navarre Resources Pty Ltd, [2006] NNTTA 161 (19 December 2006)

Application Nos:       WO06/293, WO06/294, WO06/295, WO06/296, WO06/297, WO06/298, WO06/299, WO06/300, WO06/301

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-

Johannes Marek (WO06/293)
Philip Henry Buswell (WO06/294), (WO06/295), (WO06/296), WO06/297)
Kenneth John Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges (WO06/298)
Ian Roger Ainsworth, John Walter Davey (WO06/299)
Donul Thomas Kidson (WO06/300)
Navarre Resources Pty Ltd (WO06/301) (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:              19 December 2006

Catchwords:   Native title – future acts – proposed grant of prospecting and exploration licences - expedited procedure objection applications – failure to comply with directions – springing orders 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 and exploration 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 dates 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]. In all cases 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

19 December 2006

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

E15/905

5 July 2006

WO06/301

7/07/2006

Navarre Resources Pty Ltd

8 August 2006

4 December 2006

P16/2323

5 July 2006

WO06/300

7/07/2006

Donul Thomas Kidson

8 August 2006

4 December 2006

P25/1859

5 July 2006

WO06/294

7/07/2006

Philip Henry Buswell

8 August 2006

4 December 2006

P25/1860

5 July 2006

WO06/295

7/07/2006

Philip Henry Buswell

8 August 2006

4 December 2006

P25/1861

5 July 2006

WO06/296

7/07/2006

Philip Henry Buswell

8 August 2006

4 December 2006

P25/1862

5 July 2006

WO06/297

7/07/2006

Philip Henry Buswell

8 August 2006

4 December 2006

P25/1752

5 July 2006

WO06/298

7/07/2006

Kenneth John Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges

15 August 2006

4 December 2006

P25/1864

5 July 2006

WO06/293

7/07/2006

Johannes Marek

22 August 2006

4 December 2006

E15/917

5 July 2006

WO06/299

7/07/2006

Ian Roger Ainsworth, John Walter Davy

22 August 2006

18 December 2006