Leonne Velickovic on behalf of Widji People/Western Australia/New Hampton Goldfields Ltd; Stephen Eric Dale; Westex Resources Pty Ltd; Sammy Resources Pty Ltd
[2007] NNTTA 20
•16 March 2007
NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL
Leonne Velickovic on behalf of Widji People/Western Australia/New Hampton Goldfields Ltd; Stephen Eric Dale; Westex Resources Pty Ltd; Sammy Resources Pty Ltd, [2007] NNTTA 20 (16 March 2007)
Application Nos: WO06/357, WO06/359, WO06/360, WO06/389
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-
New Hampton Goldfields Ltd (WO06/357)
Stephen Eric Dale (WO06/359)
Westex Resources Pty Ltd (WO06/360)
Sammy Resources Pty Ltd (WO06/389) (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: 16 March 2007
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 applications in event of non-compliance – objection applications dismissed.
Legislation:Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) s 148(b)
Case: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
Representative of the
Government party: Mr Greg Abbott, Department of Industry and Resources
REASONS FOR DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS
Background
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.
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
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
The 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
16 March 2007
SCHEDULE - DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS
| Tenement No(s). | Date of Govt Party Notification (s29 notice) | Objection Application No. | Date Objection Application Lodged | Grantee Party/ies | Date Directions Made | Dismissal Date by operation of the Springing Order |
| P15/4383 | 02 August 2006 | WO06/357 | 05 August 2006 | New Hampton Goldfields Ltd | 12 September 2006 | 15 January 2007 |
| P27/1680 | 22 August 2006 | WO06/359 | 05 August 2006 | Stephen Eric Dale | 07 September 2006 | 12 January 2007 |
| P26/3359 | 02 August 2006 | WO06/360 | 05 August 2006 | Westex Resources Pty Ltd | 07 November 2006 | 09 January 2007 |
| E24/147 | 30 August 2006 | WO06/389 | 01 September 2006 | Sammy Resources Pty Ltd | 14 November 2006 | 30 January 2007 |
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