Leonne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/St Francis Group Ltd

[2008] NNTTA 137

NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Leonne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/St Francis Group Ltd, [2008] NNTTA 137 (3 October 2008)

Application No:                 WO08/197

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

-and-

IN THE MATTER of an inquiry into an expedited procedure objection application

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

-and-

The State of Western Australia (Government party)

-and-

St Francis Group Ltd (grantee party)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

Tribunal:  Hon C J Sumner, Deputy President
Place:  Perth
Date of dismissal:               30 September 2008
Date of reasons:                 3 October 2008

Catchwords:  Native title – future act – proposed grant of prospecting licence – expedited procedure objection application – failure to comply with directions – springing order dismissing expedited procedure objection application in event of non-compliance - objection application dismissed.

Legislation:Native Title Act1993 (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

Representative of the        

Government party:           Mr Greg Abbott, Department of Industry and Resources

Representative of the        
grantee party:  Mr Ken Maguire, Focus Minerals Ltd

REASONS FOR DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

Background

1. On 13 February 2008, the Government party gave notice under s 29 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) of its intention to grant prospecting licence P26/3492 to St Francis Group Ltd (‘the grantee party’) and included in the notice a statement that it considered that the grant attracted the expedited procedure.

2. On 11 February 2008, Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People – Native Title Claim No. WC98/27 registered on 15 June 1998 - (‘the native title party’) made an expedited procedure objection application to the Tribunal.

Relevant facts

1. On 19 March 2008 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. The native title party was to provide a statement of contentions, documentary evidence and witness statements verified where possible by affidavits on or before 30 September 2008. 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 failed to comply by the due date.

Decision

1. Expedited procedure objection application WO08/197 is dismissed pursuant to s 148(b) of the Native Title Act1993 (Cth).

Hon C J Sumner
Deputy President
3 October 2008