Raymond William Aswhin & Others on behalf of Wutha/Western Australia/Poz Minerals Ltd; Musgrave Minerals Limited; GTI Resources Ltd; Peter Romeo Gianni; Anthony Wicks; Bernfried Gunter Franz Wasse; Duketon...

Case

[2019] NNTTA 22

10 May 2019


NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Raymond William Aswhin & Others on behalf of Wutha/Western Australia/POZ Minerals Ltd; Musgrave Minerals Limited; GTI Resources Ltd; Peter Romeo Gianni; Anthony Wicks; Bernfried Gunter Franz Wasse; Duketon Consolidated Pty Ltd; Mavia Pty Ltd, Marjorie Ann Molloy, Noonpark Pty Ltd, Katherine Anne Barritt, Mark Neale Tessman; Ardea Exploration Pty Ltd; Blue Ribbon Mines Pty Ltd; State Resources Pty Ltd; Single Figures Pty Ltd; Giard Pty Ltd; Baracus Pty Ltd; FMG Resources Pty Ltd; Regis Resources Limited; Great Sandy Pty Ltd; Australian Vanadium Limited; Sandstone Operations Pty Ltd; Venus Metals Corporation Limited; Murchison Gold Mines Pty Ltd; Shumwari Pty Ltd; Cue Consolidated Mining Pty Ltd; Pegasus Metals Ltd; Garry Warren Woods; Murray Ian Leahy [2019] NNTTA 22 (10 May 2019)

Application Nos:       WO2018/0135, WO2018/0162, WO2018/0163, WO2018/0183, WO2018/0184, WO2018/0185, WO2018/0573, WO2018/0582, WO2018/0583, WO2018/0598, WO2018/0632, WO2018/0655, WO2018/0656, WO2018/0657, WO2018/0760, WO2018/0761, WO2018/0762, WO2018/0763, WO2018/0768, WO2018/0789, WO2018/0791, WO2018/0792, WO2018/0794, WO2018/0818, WO2018/0820, WO2019/0008, WO2019/0009, WO2019/0010, WO2019/0013, WO2019/0014, WO2019/0016, WO2019/0017, WO2019/0018, WO2019/0020, WO2019/0023, WO2019/0024, WO2019/0040, WO2019/0043, WO2019/0049, WO2019/0278, WO2019/0279

IN THE MATTER of an inquiry into expedited procedure objection applications

Raymond William Ashwin & Others – Wutha (WC1999/010)

(native title party)

-and-

The State of Western Australia   

(Government party)

-and-

See attached Schedule (grantee parties)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS

Tribunal:  Member Helen Shurven
Place:  Perth
Date of dismissal:              10 May 2019

Catchwords:  Native title – future acts – proposed grant of prospecting licences – proposed grant of exploration licences - expedited procedure objection applications – native title claim application dismissed – person ceases to be a native title party - objection applications dismissed

Legislation:  Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), ss 29, 30(2), 148(a), 237

REASONS FOR DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS

Background

  1. On the dates specified on the attached schedule, the State of Western Australia gave notice under s 29 of the Native Title Act1993 (Cth) (the Act) of its intention to grant certain prospecting licences, and certain exploration licences, to the respective grantee parties also specified on the attached schedule. The notice for each intended grant included a statement that the State considered the grants attracted the expedited procedure. That is, the State considered each grant would not have the effects outlined in s 237 of the Act, and so could be granted in an expedited way.

  2. On the dates specified on the attached schedule, Raymond William Ashwin on behalf of the Wutha native title claim (WC1999/010; WAD 6064 of 1998) (the native title party) made expedited procedure objection applications to the National Native Title Tribunal in regard to each of these notices. The native title party had status to make these objection applications as Wutha was a registered native title claimant in respect of their native title determination application at the time the s 29 notices were given.

Relevant facts

  1. On 9 April 2019, an order was made by Bromberg J of the Federal Court of Australia as follows: ‘THE COURT ORDERS BY CONSENT THAT: The native title determination application WAD 6064 of 1998 be dismissed’.   The native title party’s claim application was subsequently removed from the Tribunal’s Register of Native Title Claims on 12 April 2019.

  2. According to s 30(2) of the Act, a person ceases to be a native title party if the person ceases to be a registered native title claimant. Section 148(a) of the Act empowers the Tribunal to dismiss an application if at any stage of an inquiry it is satisfied it is not entitled to deal with the application. In relation to the objection applications which are the subject of this decision, Wutha no longer has status as a native title party.

  3. On 18 April 2019, the Tribunal wrote to the Wutha representative, outlining the Federal Court action and how it would impact on the expedited procedure objection applications currently with the Tribunal.  The email included the following:

    Consequently, in accordance with s 148(a) of the Act, Member Shurven considers the Tribunal is no longer entitled to deal with any expedited procedure objection applications lodged by Wutha. The list of those current objections are in the table below [the Schedule]. Member Shurven intends to dismiss these objection applications. If you have any comment you wish to make about that course of action, please let me know on or by Friday 26 April 2019 (emphasis in original).

  4. No comment was received. In accordance with s 148(a) of the Act, I am satisfied the Tribunal is no longer entitled to deal with these expedited procedure objection applications lodged by Wutha.

Decision

  1. Expedited procedure objection applications specified in the attached schedule are dismissed pursuant to s 148(a) of the Native Title Act1993 (Cth).

Member Helen Shurven
10 May 2019

SCHEDULE - DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS

Tenement No.

Date of Govt. Party Notification (s29 Notice)

Objection Application No.

Date Objection Application Lodged

Grantee Party/ies

AM-E20/908

12/12/2018

WO2019/0016

10/01/201

POZ Minerals Ltd

AM-E21/129

31/10/2018 

WO2019/0017

10/01/2019

Musgrave Minerals Limited

AM-E51/1556-I  (533917)

22/08/2018 

WO2018/0655

28/08/2018

GTI Resources Ltd

AM-E51/1556-I ( 535105)

22/08/2018 

WO2018/0656

28/08/2018

GTI Resources Ltd

AM-E51/1556-I ( 535108)

22/08/2018 

WO2018/0657

28/08/2018

GTI Resources Ltd

E20/938

13/06/2018

WO2018/0768

30/09/2018

Peter Romeo Gianni

E20/942

5/09/2018 

WO2018/0761

30/09/2018

Anthony Wicks

E21/199

7/03/2018

WO2018/0162

11/03/2018

Bernfried Gunter Franz Wasse

E21/201

7/03/2018

WO2018/0163

11/03/2018

Duketon Consolidated Pty Ltd

E21/202

7/02/2018

WO2018/0135

6/03/2018

Mavia Pty Ltd, Marjorie Ann Molloy, Noonpark Pty Ltd, Katherine Anne Barritt, Mark Neale Tessman

E21/207

22/08/2018

WO2018/0632

28/08/2018

Musgrave Minerals Limited

E29/1006

5/09/2018

WO2018/0760

30/09/2018

Ardea Exploration Pty Ltd

E29/1029

31/10/2018

WO2019/0018

10/01/2019

Blue Ribbon Mines Pty Ltd

E29/1031

8/08/2018

WO2018/0598

20/08/2018

Blue Ribbon Mines Pty Ltd

E29/1040

13/03/2019

WO2019/0279

9/04/2019

State Resources Pty Ltd

E29/1041

5/09/2018

WO2018/0789

30/09/2018

Single Figures Pty Ltd

E29/1050

17/10/2018

WO2019/0043

10/01/2019 

Peter Romeo Gianni

E36/925

21/03/2018

WO2018/0185

23/03/2018

Giard Pty Ltd

E36/926

21/03/2018

WO2018/0184

23/03/2018

Giard Pty Ltd

E36/927

21/03/2018

WO2018/0183

23/03/2018

Giard Pty Ltd

E38/3317

19/09/2018

WO2018/0818

14/10/2018

Baracus Pty Ltd

E38/3319

5/09/2018

WO2018/0794

30/09/2018

FMG Resources Pty Ltd

E38/3320

19/09/2018

WO2018/0820

14/10/2018

FMG Resources Pty Ltd

E38/3321

5/09/2018

WO2018/0791

30/09/2018

FMG Resources Pty Ltd

E38/3322

5/09/2018

WO2018/0792

30/09/2018

FMG Resources Pty Ltd

E38/3387

27/03/2019

WO2019/0278

9/04/2019

Regis Resources Limited

E51/1886

13/06/2018

WO2018/0762

30/09/2018

Great Sandy Pty Ltd

E51/1899

3/10/201

WO2019/0020

10/01/2019

Australian Vanadium Limited

E57/1102

14/11/2018

WO2019/0010

10/01/2019

Sandstone Operations Pty Ltd

E57/110

12/12/201

WO2019/0040

10/01/2019

Venus Metals Corporation Limited

E58/512

11/07/201

WO2018/0573

8/08/2018

Murchison Gold Mines Pty Ltd

E58/528

13/06/2018

WO2018/0763

30/09/2018

Shumwari Pty Ltd

P20/2370

31/10/2018

WO2019/0023

10/01/2019

Cue Consolidated Mining Pty Ltd (Formerly Western Mining Pty Ltd)

P20/2371

31/10/2018

WO2019/0024

10/01/2019

Cue Consolidated Mining Pty Ltd (Formerly Western Mining Pty Ltd)

P20/2372

31/10/2018

WO2019/0013

10/01/2019

Cue Consolidated Mining Pty Ltd (Formerly Western Mining Pty Ltd)

P20/2373

31/10/2018

WO2019/0014

10/01/2019

Cue Consolidated Mining Pty Ltd (Formerly Western Mining Pty Ltd)

P51/3016

11/07/2018 

WO2018/0582

7/08/2018

Pegasus Metals Ltd

P51/3017

11/07/2018 

WO2018/0583

7/08/2018

Pegasus Metals Ltd

P51/3072

17/10/2018

WO2019/0049

10/01/2019

Garry Warren Woods

P51/3087

12/12/2018

WO2019/0008

10/01/2019

Murray Ian Leahy

P57/1442

12/12/2018

WO2019/0009

10/01/2019

Sandstone Operations Pty Ltd