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

[2009] NNTTA 14

NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Marianne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Frederick Charles Saunders; Clinton Dean Hood, [2009] NNTTA 14 (20 February 2009)

Application Nos:               WO08/532, WO08/539, WO08/540, WO08/541, WO08/542, WO08/543, WO08/544, WO08/545, WO08/546, WO08/547, WO08/548, WO08/549, WO08/550, WO08/551, WO08/552, WO08/553, WO08/554, WO08/555, WO08/556, WO08/557, WO08/736, WO08/737

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-

Frederick Charles Saunders (WO08/532, WO08/736-737)
Clinton Dean Hood (WO08/539-557) (grantee parties)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS

Tribunal:  Hon C J Sumner, Deputy President
Place:  Perth
Date of dismissal:               9 February 2009
Date of reasons:                 20 February 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

Representative of the        Ms Elizabeth Dobaj (WO08/532, WO08/736-737)
grantee party:  Mr Shannon McMahon, McMahon Mining and Tenement Services
  Pty Ltd (WO08/539-557)  

REASONS FOR DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS

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 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 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 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

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
20 February 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
P24/4368	18/06/2008	WO08/532	20/06/2008	Frederick Charles Saunders	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P25/2004	18/06/2008	WO08/539	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P25/2005	18/06/2008	WO08/540	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P25/2006	18/06/2008	WO08/541	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P25/2007	18/06/2008	WO08/542	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P25/2008	18/06/2008	WO08/543	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P25/2009	18/06/2008	WO08/544	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P25/2010	18/06/2008	WO08/545	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P25/2011	18/06/2008	WO08/546	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P25/2012	18/06/2008	WO08/547	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P25/2013	18/06/2008	WO08/548	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P25/2014	18/06/2008	WO08/549	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P25/2015	18/06/2008	WO08/550	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P25/2016	18/06/2008	WO08/551	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P25/2017	18/06/2008	WO08/552	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P26/3634	18/06/2008	WO08/553	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P26/3635	18/06/2008	WO08/554	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P26/3636	18/06/2008	WO08/555	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P26/3637	18/06/2008	WO08/556	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P26/3638	18/06/2008	WO08/557	20/06/2008	Clinton Dean Hood	22/07/2008	9 February 2009
P25/2046	10/09/2008	WO08/736	10/09/2008	Frederick Charles Saunders	20/10/2008	9 February 2009
P26/3676	10/09/2008	WO08/737	10/09/2008	Frederick Charles Saunders	20/10/2008	9 February 2009