Marianne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Frederick Charles Saunders

[2009] NNTTA 175

NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Marianne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Frederick Charles Saunders, [2009] NNTTA 175 (23 December 2009)

Application No:                 WO09/559

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

-and-

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

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

-and-

The State of Western Australia (Government party)

-and-

Frederick Charles Saunders (grantee party)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

Tribunal:  Hon C J Sumner, Deputy President
Place:  Perth
Date of decision:                21 December 2009
Date of reasons:                 23 December 2009

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) 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      Mr Greg Abbott and Ms Claire Malavaux,

Government party:           Department of Mines and Petroleum

Representative of the        

grantee party:  Ms Elizabeth Dobaj

REASONS FOR DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

1. On 29 July 2009, the Government party gave notice under s 29 of the Native Title Act1993 (Cth) of its intention to grant prospecting licence P25/2070 to Frederick Charles Saunders (‘the grantee party’) and included in the notice a statement that it considered that the grant attracted the expedited procedure.

2. On 28 July 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 an expedited procedure objection application to the Tribunal.

Relevant facts

1. The Tribunal made directions on 19 September 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 21 December 2009. 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 failed to comply by the due date.

Decision

1. Expedited procedure objection application WO09/559 is dismissed pursuant to s 148(b) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).

Hon C J Sumner
Deputy President
23 December 2009