Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Siouville Pty Ltd; Jackson Gold Ltd, Westex Resources Pty Ltd; Cazaly Resources Ltd; Quantum Resources Ltd; Jackson Gold Ltd; Michael Edward Charlton

Case

[2007] NNTTA 28

27 March 2007


NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Siouville Pty Ltd; Jackson Gold Ltd, Westex Resources Pty Ltd; Cazaly Resources Ltd; Quantum Resources Ltd; Jackson Gold Ltd; Michael Edward Charlton, [2007] NNTTA 28 (27 March 2007)

Application Nos:       WO06/363; WO06/391; WO06/392; WO06/393; WO06/394; WO06/395; WO06/396; WO06/397; WO06/398; WO06/399; WO06/400; WO06/401; WO06/403; WO06/404; WO06/405; WO06/407;        WO06/408

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-

Siouville Pty Ltd (WO06/363)
Jackson Gold Ltd, Westex Resources Pty Ltd (WO06/391), (WO06/392)
Cazaly Resources Ltd, Jackson Gold Ltd (WO06/393), (WO06/394), (WO06/395)
Quantum Resources Ltd (WO06/396 to WO06/401)
Jackson Gold Ltd (WO06/403), (WO06/404), (WO06/405)
Michael Edward Charlton (WO06/407), (WO06/408) (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:              27 March 2007

Catchwords:  Native title – future acts – proposed grant of prospecting and exploration 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 and exploration licences to the grantee parties specified therein and included in the notice a statement that it considered that the 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]. 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
27 March 2007

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

E15/914

02/08/2006

WO06/363

05/08/2006

Siouville Pty Ltd

05/01/2007

20/02/2007

P27/1686

30/08/2006

WO06/391

01/09/2006

Jackson Gold Ltd, Westex Resources Pty Ltd

29/01/2007

27/02/2007

P27/1687

30/08/2006

WO06/392

01/09/2006

Jackson Gold Ltd, Westex Resources Pty Ltd

29/01/2007

27/02/2007

P26/3369

30/08/2006

WO06/393

01/09/2006

Cazaly Resources Ltd, Jackson Gold Ltd

29/01/2007

27/02/2007

P27/1682

30/08/2006

WO06/394

01/09/2006

Cazaly Resources Ltd, Jackson Gold Ltd

29/01/2007

27/02/2007

P27/1688

30/08/2006

WO06/395

01/09/2006

Cazaly Resources Ltd, Jackson Gold Ltd

29/01/2007

27/02/2007

P26/3363

30/08/2006

WO06/396

01/09/2006

Quantum Resources Ltd

29/01/2007

27/02/2007

P26/3364

30/08/2006

WO06/397

01/09/2006

Quantum Resources Ltd

29/01/2007

27/02/2007

P26/3365

30/08/2006

WO06/398

01/09/2006

Quantum Resources Ltd

29/01/2007

27/02/2007

P26/3366

30/08/2006

WO06/399

01/09/2006

Quantum Resources Ltd

29/01/2007

27/02/2007

P26/3367

30/08/2006

WO06/400

01/09/2006

Quantum Resources Ltd

29/01/2007

27/02/2007

P26/3368

30/08/2006

WO06/401

01/09/2006

Quantum Resources Ltd

29/01/2007

27/02/2007

P24/4017

30/08/2006

WO06/403

01/09/2006

Jackson Gold Ltd

29/01/2007

27/02/2007

P24/4018

30/08/2006

WO06/404

01/09/2006

Jackson Gold Ltd

29/01/2007

27/02/2007

P24/4019

30/08/2006

WO06/405

01/09/2006

Jackson Gold Ltd

29/01/2007

27/02/2007

P15/4803

30/08/2006

WO06/407

01/09/2006

Michael Edward Charlton

19/01/2007

13/02/2007

P15/4804

30/08/2006

WO06/408

01/09/2006

Michael Edward Charlton

19/01/2007

13/02/2007