Leonne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Scott Walter Wilson; Murchison Resources Pty Ltd

[2007] NNTTA 56

NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Leonne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Scott Walter Wilson; Murchison Resources Pty Ltd, [2007] NNTTA 56 (27 June 2007)

Application Nos:       WO07/92,      WO07/93,      WO07/94,      WO07/95,      WO07/96, WO07/97, WO07/98,            WO07/99,      WO07/100,     WO07/101, WO07/102

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-

Scott Walter Wilson (WO07/92-96)
Murchison Resources Pty Ltd (WO07/97-102) (grantee parties)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS

Tribunal:  Hon C J Sumner, Deputy President
Place:  Perth
Date of dismissal:            18 June 2007
Date of reasons:              27 June 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

Background

1. On 31 January 2007, 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 31 January 2007, 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 requiring all parties to produce contentions and evidence for the conduct of the inquiry to determine whether or not the expedited procedure was attracted, as specified in the attached schedule. 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 applications 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 each case the native title party failed to comply by the due date.

Decision

1. In each case the native title party has failed to comply with a direction by the Tribunal and accordingly 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

27 June 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 Parties	Date Directions Made	Dismissal Date by operation of the Springing Order
P24/4020	31/01/2007	WO07/92	31/01/2007	Scott Walter Wilson	04/05/2007	18/06/2007
P24/4021	31/01/2007	WO07/93	31/01/2007	Scott Walter Wilson	04/05/2007	18/06/2007
P24/4022	31/01/2007	WO07/94	31/01/2007	Scott Walter Wilson	04/05/2007	18/06/2007
P24/4023	31/01/2007	WO07/95	31/01/2007	Scott Walter Wilson	04/05/2007	18/06/2007
P24/4024	31/01/2007	WO07/96	31/01/2007	Scott Walter Wilson	04/05/2007	18/06/2007
P24/4028	31/01/2007	WO07/97	31/01/2007	Murchison Resources Pty Ltd	04/05/2007	18/06/2007
P24/4029	31/01/2007	WO07/98	31/01/2007	Murchison Resources Pty Ltd	04/05/2007	18/06/2007
P24/4030	31/01/2007	WO07/99	31/01/2007	Murchison Resources Pty Ltd	04/05/2007	18/06/2007
P24/4031	31/01/2007	WO07/100	31/01/2007	Murchison Resources Pty Ltd	04/05/2007	18/06/2007
P26/3218	31/01/2007	WO07/101	31/01/2007	Murchison Resources Pty Ltd	04/05/2007	18/06/2007
P26/3219	31/01/2007	WO07/102	31/01/2007	Murchison Resources Pty Ltd	04/05/2007	18/06/2007