Leonne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Peter Romeo Gianni, Kim James Harris; Alessandro Luigi Guj; Western Resources Pty Ltd; Michael Ashley Giles

Case

[2008] NNTTA 14

5 February 2008


NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Leonne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Peter Romeo Gianni, Kim James Harris; Alessandro Luigi Guj; Western Resources Pty Ltd; Michael Ashley Giles, [2008] NNTTA 14 (5 February 2008)

Application Nos:                WO07/931, WO07/954, WO07/957, WO07/958, WO07/959, WO07/960, WO07/961, WO07/965

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-

Peter Romeo Gianni, Kim James Harris (WO07/931)
Alessandro Luigi Guj (WO07/954)
Western Resources Pty Ltd (WO07/957 – WO07/961)
Michael Ashley Giles (WO07/965) (grantee parties)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS

Tribunal:  Hon C J Sumner, Deputy President
Place:  Perth
Date of dismissals:             4 February 2008

Date of reasons:                 5 February 2008

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

Representatives of the       Mr Jerome Frewen, Desert Management Pty Ltd

native title party:               Ms Richardene Dangor, 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 licences to the grantee parties 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 & Others 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 dates 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
5 February 2008

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

P15/4834

12/09/2007

WO07/931

11/09/2007

Peter Romeo Gianni, Kim James Harris

25/10/2007

04/02/2008

P24/4175

12/09/2007

WO07/954

11/09/2007

Alessandro Luigi Guj

14/12/2007

04/02/2008

P16/2540

12/09/2007

WO07/957

11/09/2007

Western Resources Pty Ltd

21/11/2007

04/02/2008

P16/2541

12/09/2007

WO07/958

11/09/2007

Western Resources Pty Ltd

21/11/2007

04/02/2008

P16/2542

12/09/2007

WO07/959

11/09/2007

Western Resources Pty Ltd

21/11/2007

04/02/2008

P16/2545

12/09/2007

WO07/960

11/09/2007

Western Resources Pty Ltd

21/11/2007

04/02/2008

P16/2546

12/09/2007

WO07/961

11/09/2007

Western Resources Pty Ltd

21/11/2007

04/02/2008

P16/2355

12/09/2007

WO07/965

11/09/2007

Michael Ashley Giles

26/11/2007

04/02/2008