Marianne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Ronald Francis Pawson; Kevin John Laccos; Brett Anthony Scott, Lance Blincoe Fraser, Ernesto Villaescusa; Crosspick Resources Pty Ltd;...

Case

[2011] NNTTA 84

17 May 2011


NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Marianne Velickovic & Others on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Ronald Francis Pawson; Kevin John Laccos; Brett Anthony Scott, Lance Blincoe Fraser, Ernesto Villaescusa; Crosspick Resources Pty Ltd; Robert Mark Henning, [2011] NNTTA 84 (17 May 2011)

Application Nos:       WO10/1210, WO10/1715, WO10/1717, WO10/1719, WO10/1721, WO10/1726

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-

See attached Schedule (grantee parties)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS

Tribunal:  Hon C J Sumner, Deputy President
Place:  Perth
Date of dismissal:            listed on the attached schedule
Date of reasons:              17 May 2011

Catchwords:  Native title – future acts – proposed grant of prospecting and 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), 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 Clyde Lannan, 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 and exploration 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 & 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.

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]. In all cases the native title party 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
17 May 2011

SCHEDULE - DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS

Tenement No(s). Date of Govt Party Notification (s 29 notice) Objection Application Date Objection Application Lodged

Grantee Party/ies

Date Directions Made

Dismissal Date by operation of the Springing Order

P24/4511

25 August 2010

WO10/1210

25 August 2010

Ronald Francis Pawson

30 September 2010

18 April 2011

AM-E26/131

17 November 2010

WO10/1715

17 November 2010

Kevin John Laccos

11 March 2011

7 April 2011

P24/4550

1 December 2010

WO10/1717

30 November 2010

Brett Anthony Scott, Lance Blincoe Fraser, Ernesto Villaescusa

1 March 2011

27 April 2011

P24/4549

1 December 2010

WO10/1719

30 November 2010

Brett Anthony Scott, Lance Blincoe Fraser, Ernesto Villaescusa

1 March 2011

27 April 2011

E15/1227

1 December 2010

WO10/1721

30 November 2010

Crosspick Resources Pty Ltd

1 March 2011

27 April 2011

P27/2061

1 December 2010

WO10/1726

30 November 2010

Robert Mark Henning

11 March 2011

25 April 2011