Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/North Eastern Goldfields Exploration Pty Ltd

[2006] NNTTA 67

NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/North Eastern Goldfields Exploration Pty Ltd, [2006] NNTTA 67 (2 June 2006)

Application No:        WO05/848

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

-and-

IN THE MATTER of an inquiry into expedited procedure objection application

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

-and-

The State of Western Australia (Government party)

-and-

North Eastern Goldfields Exploration Pty Ltd (grantee party)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

Tribunal:  Hon C J Sumner, Deputy President
Place:  Perth
Date of dismissal:            2 June 2006

Catchwords:             Native title – future act – proposed grant of exploration licence - expedited procedure objection application – failure to comply with directions – objection application dismissed.

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

Cases:Leonne Velickovic on behalf of Widji People/Western Australia/Cazaly Resources Limited, NNTT WO04/185 and WO04/198, [2005] NNTTA 4 (28 February 2005), Hon C J Sumner

Representative of the

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

Representative of the        Mr Andrew Pumphrey,

grantee party:  North Eastern Goldfields Exploration Pty Ltd

Representatives of the       

Government party:           Mr Greg Abbott, Department of Industry and Resources

REASONS FOR DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

Background

1. On 30 November 2005, the Government party gave notice under s 29 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) of its intention to grant exploration licence P26/3064 (‘the proposed licence’) to North Eastern Goldfields Exploration Pty Ltd (‘the grantee party’) and included in the notice a statement that the Government party considered that the grant attracted the expedited procedure.

2. On 28 November 2005, Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People – Native Title Claim No. WC98/27 registered on 15 June 1998 – (‘the native title party’) lodged an expedited procedure objection application in relation to the proposed licence with the Tribunal (designated WO05/848).

Relevant Facts

1. On 13 December 2005 the Tribunal made directions 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 31 July 2006. The directions contain a statement that an objection may be dismissed pursuant to s 148(b) of the Act if the objector fails within a reasonable time to proceed with the application or to comply with a direction of the Tribunal.

2. The Tribunal was advised by the representative for the grantee party that agreement was not possible in these matters on 17 February 2006.  After allowing an extended period for the native title party to comment on the proposed dates, on 12 May 2006 with the consent of all parties given on 27 April 2006, I amended the directions for the native title party to comply six weeks after the objection closing date.  This was in accordance with the Tribunal’s practice to bring compliance dates forward to eliminate the standard 16 week negotiating period in matters where it is clear that agreement cannot be reached (see Procedures under the Right to Negotiate Scheme – 27 January 2005 (paras 3.8.2, 3.9.3) website act/procedures and guidelines).  The amended directions required native title party compliance on or before 17 May 2006 and this direction has still not been complied with.

3. On 2 June 2006 on application by the Government and grantee parties I dismissed the objection application pursuant to s 148(b) of the Act on the basis of non-compliance with the Tribunal’s directions by the native title party for reasons similar to those given in Leonne Velickovic on behalf of Widji People/Western Australia/Cazaly Resources Limited, NNTT WO04/185 and WO04/198, [2005] NNTTA 4 (28 February 2005), Hon C J Sumner (at [12]-[13]). Prior to the hearing Mr Frewen advised the Tribunal that he would be unable to attend and requested that the hearing be postponed for one week. In making this request Mr Frewen provided no reasons for his client’s non-compliance and did not make any application to extend the time for compliance. As neither the Government nor grantee parties were prepared to consent to a postponement and Mr Frewen had been on notice of the hearing date since at least 12 May 2006, I declined his request.

Decision

1. Expedited procedure objection application WO05/848 is dismissed pursuant to s 148(b) of the Native Title Act 1993.

Hon C J Sumner
Deputy President

2 June 2006