Marianne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Kurana Pty Ltd, Brightflow Investments Pty Ltd, West River Pty Ltd, Aust. Gen Qian Mining Pty Ltd

Case

[2009] NNTTA 48

13 May 2009


NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Marianne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Kurana Pty Ltd, Brightflow Investments Pty Ltd, West River Pty Ltd, Aust. Gen Qian Mining Pty Ltd, [2009] NNTTA 48 (13 May 2009)

Application Nos:                  WO08/567, WO08/741, WO08/742, WO08/1233, WO08/1234, WO08/1235, WO08/1236, WO08/1237, WO08/1238

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

-and-

IN THE MATTER of an inquiry into expedited procedure objection applications

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

-and-

The State of Western Australia (Government party)

-and-

Kurana Pty Ltd
Brightflow Investments Pty Ltd
West River Pty Ltd
Aust. Gen Qian Mining Pty Ltd (grantee parties)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS

Tribunal:  Hon C J Sumner, Deputy President
Place:  Perth
Date of dismissal:                 04 May 2009
Date of reasons:                   13 May 2009

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 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 Mines and Petroleum

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 Act1993 (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 the dates specified in the attached schedule, Marianne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People – Native Title Claim No. WC98/27 registered from 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]. 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 Act1993 (Cth).

Hon C J Sumner
Deputy President
13 May 2009

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

P15/5209

16 July 2008

WO08/567

11/07/08

Kurana Pty Ltd

04 March 2009

04 May 2009

E27/376

10 September 2008

WO08/741

10/09/08

Brightflow Investments Pty Ltd

30 September 2008

04 May 2009

E26/129

10 September 2008

WO08/742

10/09/08

West River Pty Ltd

30 September 2008

04 May 2009

E15/1085

17 December 2008

WO08/1233

31/12/08

Aust. Gen Qian Mining Pty Ltd

13 February 2009

04 May 2009

E15/1086

17 December 2008

WO08/1234

31/12/08

Aust. Gen Qian Mining Pty Ltd

13 February 2009

04 May 2009

E15/1087

17 December 2008

WO08/1235

31/12/08

Aust. Gen Qian Mining Pty Ltd

13 February 2009

04 May 2009

E15/1088

17 December 2008

WO08/1236

31/12/08

Aust. Gen Qian Mining Pty Ltd

13 February 2009

04 May 2009

E15/1089

17 December 2008

WO08/1237

31/12/08

Aust. Gen Qian Mining Pty Ltd

13 February 2009

04 May 2009

E15/1090

17 December 2008

WO08/1238

31/12/08

Aust. Gen Qian Mining Pty Ltd

13 February 2009

04 May 2009