Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Lorenzo Divitini, George Harvey, Brian James Lennox; Fredrick Charles Saunders; Jackson Gold Ltd

Case

[2007] NNTTA 45

28 May 2007


NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Lorenzo Divitini, George Harvey, Brian James Lennox; Fredrick Charles Saunders; Jackson Gold Ltd, [2007] NNTTA 45 (28 May 2007)

Application Nos:       WO06/390, WO06/592, WO06/593, WO06/594, WO06/595          

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-

Lorenzo Divitini, George Harvey, Brian James Lennox (WO06/390)
Fredrick Charles Saunders (WO06/592)
Jackson Gold Ltd (WO06/593), (WO06/594), (WO06/595) (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 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        Mr Jerome Frewen, Desert Management Pty Ltd

native title party:               

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

P15/4785

30/08/2006

WO06/390

01/09/2006

Lorenzo Divitini, George Harvey, Brian James Lennox

23/11/2006

13/03/2007

P15/4473

08/11/2006

WO06/592

08/11/2006

Fredrick Charles Saunders

13/02/2007

29/03/2007

P27/1683

08/11/2006

WO06/593

08/11/2006

Jackson Gold Ltd

11/01/2007

29/03/2007

P27/1684

08/11/2006

WO06/594

08/11/2006

Jackson Gold Ltd

11/01/2007

29/03/2007

P27/1685

08/11/2006

WO06/595

08/11/2006

Jackson Gold Ltd

11/01/2007

29/03/2007