Rita Dempster; Barbara Stammer; Winnie McHenry; Jenny Mogridge; Allan Kickett; Ken Colbung; Patricia Morich; Robert Bropho; Ike Simpson and Alec Mondoo; Ben Ward & Ors; F Nannup & J Walley; Red Alexander of the...

Case

[2001] NNTTA 15

7 February 2001


NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Rita Dempster; Barbara Stammer; Winnie McHenry; Jenny Mogridge; Allan Kickett; Ken Colbung; Patricia Morich; Robert Bropho; Ike Simpson and Alec Mondoo; Ben Ward & Ors; F Nannup & J Walley; Red Alexander of the Kurama People/Western Australia/Australian Gold Resources Ltd; Geotech International Pty Ltd; RJ Butler; Golden Hills Mining NL; Accolade Mining Management Pty Ltd; Forrestania Gold NL; Acacia Resources Ltd; Balde Exploration Consultants Pty Ltd; Minister for Lands; Bellriver Pty Ltd; Gascoyne Gold Mines NL, Orion Resources NL, Southern Goldfields Ltd; Gascoyne Gold Mines NL; Pan Australian Exploration Pty Ltd; Stockdale Prospecting Ltd; Astro Mining NL; Burmine Operations Pty Ltd; Austmin Platinum Mines Pty Ltd, Dragon Resources Ltd; North Mining Ltd; Carnegie Minerals NL; State; Mineralogy, [2001] NNTTA 15 (7 February 2001)

Application Nos:      WF98/29 and Others (1998 Future Act Determination Applications – see attached schedule)

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

- and -

IN THE MATTER of an inquiry into Future Act Determination Applications

WF98/29
Ike Simpson and Ors (native title party)

- and -

The State of Western Australia (Government party)

- and -

Austmin Platinum Mines Pty Ltd (grantee party)

The other applications are listed in the Schedule to the Reasons for Decision

DECISION TO DISMISS FUTURE ACT DETERMINATION APPLICATIONS

Tribunal:         The Hon C. J. Sumner
Place:               Perth
Date:                7 February 2001

Catchwords:   Native title – future acts – proposed grant of mining tenements – future act determination applications – negotiation in good faith not yet complied with – Tribunal has no jurisdiction – applications dismissed.

Legislation:Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) ss 31(1)(b), 148(a)

Cases:Walley v WA (1996) 67 FCR 366; 137 ALR 561

Western Australia/Coppin (Njamal)/Valiant Consolidated, NNTT WF98/11 and Ors, Hon CJ Sumner, 17 December 1998

Coppin v WA [1999] FCA 931, 164 ALR 270

REASONS FOR DECISION TO DISMISS FUTURE ACT DETERMINATION APPLICATIONS

Background

  1. In September 1998, the Future Act Determination Applications listed in the attached Schedule were lodged with the Tribunal by the various native title parties specified in the Schedule.  The applications relate to the future acts proposed to be done by the Government party specified in the Schedule.

  2. On 17 December 1998 the Tribunal decided that the obligation to negotiate in good faith imposed on the Government party (Walley v WA (1996) 67 FCR 366; 137 ALR 561) was a jurisdictional precondition to conducting an inquiry and making a determination, even if the future act determination application was made by a native title party (Western Australia/Coppin (Njamal)/Valiant Consolidated, NNTT WF98/11 and Ors, Hon CJ Sumner, 17 December 1998).  The decision was upheld by the Federal Court (Coppin v WA [1999] FCA 931; 164 ALR 270, Carr J, 8 July 1999).

  3. In each of the applications detailed in the attached Schedule there is no dispute among the parties that the obligation to negotiate in good faith imposed on the Government party by s 31(1)(b) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) has not been complied with. Accordingly, the applications should be dismissed.

Decision

  1. The future act determination applications listed in the attached Schedule are dismissed pursuant to s 148(a) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (as amended).

Hon C. J. Sumner
Deputy President

7 February 2001

WF98/29 AND OTHERS – SCHEDULE OF FUTURE ACT DETERMINATION APPLICATIONS

DISMISSED PURSUANT TO s 148(a) OF THE NATIVE TITLE ACT 1993 (CTH) – 7 FEBRUARY 2001

Case Number Application Lodged By Grantee Party Tenement No Tenement Type Application Lodgement Date Native Title Party Linked WC
WF98/205 NLC Australian Gold Resources Ltd 74/242 Exploration 25/9/1998 Rita Dempster WC96/109
WF98/211 NLC Geotech International Pty Ltd 70/2007 Exploration 25/9/1998 Rita Dempster WC96/109
WF98/214 NLC RJ Butler 74/150 Exploration 25/9/1998 Rita Dempster WC96/109
WF98/217 NLC Golden Hills Mining NL 63/588 Exploration 25/9/1998 Rita Dempster WC96/109
WF98/218 NLC Accolade Mining Management Pty Ltd 74/154 Exploration 25/9/1998 Rita Dempster WC96/109
WF98/221 NLC Forrestania Gold NL 77/479 Amalgamation (Exploration) 25/9/1998 Winnie McHenry WC97/56
WF98/223 NLC Acacia Resources Ltd 70/1898 Exploration 25/9/1998 Rita Dempster WC96/109
WF98/225 NLC Balde Exploration Consultants Pty Ltd 70/1512 Exploration 25/9/1998 Barbara Stammer WC95/85
WF98/228 NLC Minister for Lands 940366 DOLA 25/9/1998 Rita Dempster WC96/109
WF98/230 NLC Bellriver Pty Ltd 77/459 Exploration 25/9/1998 Winnie McHenry WC97/56
WF98/232 NLC Gascoyne Gold Mines NL, Orion Resources NL, Southern Goldfields Ltd 77/112 Miscellaneous 25/9/1998 Winnie McHenry WC97/56
WF98/238 NLC Gascoyne Gold Mines NL 77/33 Miscellaneous 25/9/1998 Rita Dempster WC96/109
WF98/239 NLC Pan Australian Exploration Pty Ltd 63/449 Exploration 25/9/1998 Rita Dempster WC96/109
WF98/242 NLC Stockdale Prospecting Ltd 70/1977 Exploration 25/9/1998 Winnie McHenry WC97/56
WF98/248 NLC Astro Mining NL 70/2024 Exploration 25/9/1998 Winnie McHenry WC97/56
WF98/251 NLC Minister for Lands 909944 DOLA 25/9/1998 Jenny Mogridge WC97/38
WC97/71
WF98/252 NLC Minister for Lands 953425 DOLA 25/9/1998 Allan Kickett WC96/90
WC96/91
WF98/253 NLC Minister for Lands 917344 DOLA 25/9/1998 Allan Kickett WC96/90
WF98/254 NLC Minister for Lands 940366 DOLA 25/9/1998 Ken Colbung WC96/109
WF98/255 NLC Minister for Lands 950186
956601
961028
DOLA 25/9/1998 Patricia Morich WC96/105
WF98/256 NLC Minister for Lands 954448 DOLA 25/9/1998 Robert Bropho WC95/81
WF98/257 NLC Minister for Lands 954489 DOLA 25/9/1998 J Mogridge WC96/90
WC97/71
WF98/258 NLC Minister for Lands 954581 DOLA 25/9/1998 Rita Dempster WC96/105
WC96/109
WF98/262 NLC Gascoyne Gold Mines NL 77/168 Exploration 25/9/1998 Winnie McHenry WC97/56
WF98/263 NLC Forrestania Gold NL 77/175 Exploration 25/9/1998 Winnie McHenry WC97/56
WF98/266 NLC Burmine Operations Pty Ltd 77/113
77/114
Miscellaneous 25/9/1998 Winnie McHenry WC97/56

WF98/29 AND OTHERS – SCHEDULE OF FUTURE ACT DETERMINATION APPLICATIONS

DISMISSED PURSUANT TO s 148(a) OF THE NATIVE TITLE ACT 1993 (CTH) – 7 FEBRUARY 2001

Case Number           Application Lodged By Grantee Party Tenement No Tenement Type Application Lodgement Date Native Title Party Linked WC
WF98/29 ALS Austmin Platinum Mines Pty Ltd, Dragon Resources Ltd 51/543
51/544
51/545
51/546
Mining 8/9/1998 Ike Simpson and Alec Mondoo WC96/16 (now combined claim WC00/4)
WF98/82 ALS North Mining Ltd 52/582 Mining 8/9/1998 Ben Ward & Ors WC95/83
WC95/26
WC95/72
WF98/141 ALS Carnegie Minerals NL 80/2225 Exploration 18/9/1998 Ben Ward & Ors WC94/2
WC94/6
WF98/191 ALS State 960216 DOLA 23/9/1998 F Nannup & J Walley WC96/100
WF98/192 ALS State 953425 DOLA 23/9/1998 F Nannup & J Walley WC96/100
WF98/312 ALS Mineralogy 08/118 Exploration 29/9/1998 Red Alexander of the Kurama People WC96/51 (now combined with WC99/12)