Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Rodney Charles Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd; David Malcolm Saggers, Murray Kenneth Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd; Kenneth John...

Case

[2007] NNTTA 73

28 August 2007


NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Rodney Charles Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd; David Malcolm Saggers, Murray Kenneth Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd; Kenneth John Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd; Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd; Rodney Charles Hodges; Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges, [2007] NNTTA 73 (28 August 2007)

Application Nos:                WO07/217, WO07/218, WO07/221, WO07/222, WO07/224, WO07/225, WO07/226, WO07/227, WO07/228, WO07/229, WO07/230, WO07/231, WO07/232, WO07/233, WO07/234, WO07/235, WO07/236, WO07/237

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

-and-

IN THE MATTER of an inquiry into expedited procedure objection applications

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

-and-

The State of Western Australia (Government party)

-and-

Rodney Charles Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd (WO07/217)
David Malcolm Saggers, Murray Kenneth Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd (WO07/218)
Kenneth John Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd (WO07/221 – WO07/222)
Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd (WO07/224 – WO07/227)
Rodney Charles Hodges (WO07/228)
Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges (WO07/229 – WO07/237)
(grantee parties)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS

Tribunal:  Hon C J Sumner, Deputy President
Place:  Perth
Date of dismissals:             20 August 2007

Date of reasons:                 28 August 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        

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

  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 has in each case 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 August 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

P27/1702

28/03/2007

WO07/217

28/03/2007

Rodney Charles Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd

23 May 2007

20 August 2007

P25/1875

28/03/2007

WO07/218

28/03/2007

David Malcolm Saggers, Murray Kenneth Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd

18 May 2007

20 August 2007

P25/1876

28/03/2007

WO07/221

28/03/2007

Kenneth John Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd

23 May 2007

20 August 2007

P25/1877

28/03/2007

WO07/222

28/03/2007

Kenneth John Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd

23 May 2007

20 August 2007

P27/1703

28/03/2007

WO07/224

28/03/2007

Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd

23 May 2007

20 August 2007

P27/1704

28/03/2007

WO07/225

28/03/2007

Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd

23 May 2007

20 August 2007

P27/1705

28/03/2007

WO07/226

28/03/2007

Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd

23 May 2007

20 August 2007

P27/1706

28/03/2007

WO07/227

28/03/2007

Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges, Goldearth Enterprises Pty Ltd

23 May 2007

20 August 2007

P24/4050

28/03/2007

WO07/228

28/03/2007

Rodney Charles Hodges

23 May 2007

20 August 2007

P24/4051

28/03/2007

WO07/229

28/03/2007

Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges

23 May 2007

20 August 2007

P24/4052

28/03/2007

WO07/230

28/03/2007

Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges

23 May 2007

20 August 2007

P24/4053

28/03/2007

WO07/231

28/03/2007

Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges

23 May 2007

20 August 2007

P24/4054

28/03/2007

WO07/232

28/03/2007

Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges

23 May 2007

20 August 2007

P24/4055

28/03/2007

WO07/233

28/03/2007

Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges

23 May 2007

20 August 2007

P24/4056

28/03/2007

WO07/234

28/03/2007

Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges

23 May 2007

20 August 2007

P24/4057

28/03/2007

WO07/235

28/03/2007

Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges

23 May 2007

20 August 2007

P24/4058

28/03/2007

WO07/236

28/03/2007

Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges

23 May 2007

20 August 2007

P24/4059

28/03/2007

WO07/237

28/03/2007

Murray Kenneth Hodges, Rodney Charles Hodges

23 May 2007

20 August 2007