Marianne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Leslie Alex Keresztesi, Michael Laurence John Doyle, Ross William Smith

[2010] NNTTA 206

NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Marianne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Leslie Alex Keresztesi, Michael Laurence John Doyle, Ross William Smith, [2010] NNTTA 206 (15 December 2010)

Application Nos:                WO10/536, WO10/537

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

-and-

IN THE MATTER of an inquiry into an 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-

Leslie Alex Keresztesi, Michael Laurence John Doyle, Ross William Smith (grantee party)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS

Tribunal:  Hon C J Sumner, Deputy President
Place:  Perth
Date of decision:                29 November 2010
Date of reasons:                15 December 2010

Catchwords:  Native title – future act – 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) 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

Representative of the        

Government party:            Mr Clyde Lannan, Department of Mines and Petroleum

Representative of the        

grantee party:  Mr Michael Laurence John Doyle

REASONS FOR DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS

Background

1. On 7 April 2010, the Government party gave notice under s 29 of the Native Title Act1993 (Cth) of its intention to grant prospecting licences P27/2020 and P27/2021 (‘the proposed licences’) to Leslie Alex Keresztesi, Michael Laurence John Doyle and Ross William Smith (‘the grantee party’) and included in the notice a statement that it considered that the grants attracted the expedited procedure.

2. On 1 April 2010, 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 23 April 2010, 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 29 November 2010. 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 applications WO10/536 and WO10/537 are dismissed pursuant to s 148(b) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).

Hon C J Sumner
Deputy President
15 December 2010