Marianne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Adam Frank Hill; Westex Resources Pty Ltd
[2010] NNTTA 50
•15 April 2010
NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL
Marianne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Adam Frank Hill; Westex Resources Pty Ltd, [2010] NNTTA 50 (15 April 2010)
Application Nos: WO09/891, WO09/893
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-
Adam Frank Hill (WO09/891)
Westex Resources Pty Ltd (WO09/893) (grantee parties)
DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS
Tribunal: Hon C J Sumner, Deputy President
Place: Perth
Date of decision: 12 April 2010
Date of reasons: 15 April 2010
Catchwords: Native title – future acts – proposed grant of exploration 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) ss 29, 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 Ms Claire Malavaux, Department of Mines and Petroleum
Government party: Mr Greg Abbott, Department of Mines and Petroleum
Representative of the Mr Adam Frank Hill (WO09/891)
grantee parties: Mr Steve Millward, Millward Surveys Pty Ltd (WO09/893)
REASONS FOR DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS
Background
On 18 November 2009, the Government party gave notice under s 29 of the Native Title Act1993 (Cth) of its intention to grant exploration licence E15/1146 to Adam Frank Hill and exploration licence E26/143 to Westex Resources Pty Ltd (‘the grantee parties’) and included in the notice a statement that it considered that the grants attracted the expedited procedure.
On 18 November 2009, Marianne 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 in relation to E15/1146 (WO09/891) and E26/143 (WO09/893).
Relevant facts
In each case the Tribunal made directions on 23 December 2009 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 12 April 2010. 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]. The native title party has in each case failed to comply by the due date.
Decision
Expedited procedure objection applications WO09/891 and WO09/893 are dismissed pursuant to s 148(b) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).
Hon C J Sumner
Deputy President
15 April 2010
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