Roberts on behalf of the Najig and the Guyanggan Nganawirdbird Groups v Northern Territory of Australia (No 2)

[2012] FCA 254

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Roberts on behalf of the Najig and the Guyanggan Nganawirdbird Groups v Northern Territory of Australia (No 2) [2012] FCA 254

Citation:

Roberts on behalf of the Najig and the Guyanggan Nganawirdbird Groups v Northern Territory of Australia (No 2) [2012] FCA 254

Parties:

JESSIE ROBERTS (FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE NAJIG AND THE GUYANGGAN NGANAWIRDBIRD GROUPS) v NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA and CAVE CREEK STATION PTY LTD

JESSIE ROBERTS & OTHERS (FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE NAJIG AND THE GUYANGGAN NGANAWIRDBIRD GROUPS) v NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA, APT PIPELINES (NT) PTY LTD, CONSERVATION LAND CORPORATION, ROPER GULF SHIRE COUNCIL, NORTHERN CEMENT LTD, NORTHERN TERRITORY LAND CORPORATION and TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED   

File numbers:

NTD 6001 of 2001
NTD 6026 of 2002

Judge:

FINN J

Date of judgment:

20 March 2012

Place:

Darwin

Division:

GENERAL DIVISION

Category:

No Catchwords

Number of paragraphs:

2

In NSD 6001 of 2001

Counsel for the Applicant:

Ms T Cole

Solicitor for the Applicant:

Northern Land Council

Counsel for the First Respondent:

Ms K Gatis

Solicitor for the First Respondent:

Solicitor for Northern Territory

Counsel for the Second Respondent:

Mr K Stephens

Solicitor for the Second Respondent:

Ward Keller

In NSD 6026 of 2002

Counsel for the Applicant:

Ms T Cole

Solicitor for the Applicant:

Northern Land Council

Counsel for the First Respondent:

Ms K Gatis

Solicitor for the First Respondent:

Solicitor for Northern Territory

Counsel for the Second Respondent:

Mr N Johansen

Solicitor for the Second Respondent:

Ward Keller Lawyers

Counsel for the Third and Sixth Respondents:

Ms R Slaven

Solicitor for the Third and Sixth Respondents:

Clayton Utz

Counsel for the Fourth Respondent:

Ms A Vaughan

Solicitor for the Fourth Respondent:

Cridlands MB Lawyers

Counsel for the Fifth Respondent:

Mr E Vickery

Solicitor for the Fifth Respondent:

Minter Ellison

Counsel for the Eighth Respondent:

Ms M Barnett-Smith

Solicitor for the Eighth Respondent:

Ashurst (formerly Blake Dawson)

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
NORTHERN TERRITORY DISTRICT REGISTRY
GENERAL DIVISION	NTD 6001 of 2001

BETWEEN:

JESSIE ROBERTS (FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE NAJIG AND THE GUYANGGAN NGANAWIRDBIRD GROUPS)
Applicant

AND:

NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
First Respondent

CAVE CREEK STATION PTY LTD
Second Respondent

JUDGE:	FINN J
DATE OF ORDER:	20 MARCH 2012
WHERE MADE:	DARWIN

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1.The proceedings NTD 6001 of 2001 (Mataranka) and NTD 6026 of 2002 (Town of Mataranka) are to be heard separately.   

Note:Entry of orders is dealt with in Rule 39.32 of the Federal Court Rules 2011. 

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
NORTHERN TERRITORY DISTRICT REGISTRY
GENERAL DIVISION	NTD 6026 of 2002

BETWEEN:

JESSIE ROBERTS & OTHERS (FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE NAJIG AND THE GUYANGGAN NGANAWIRDBIRD GROUPS)
Applicant

AND:

NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
First Respondent

APT PIPELINES (NT) PTY LTD
Second Respondent

CONSERVATION LAND CORPORATION
Third Respondent

ROPER GULF SHIRE COUNCIL
Fourth Respondent

NORTHERN CEMENT LTD
Fifth Respondent

NORTHERN TERRITORY LAND CORPORATION
Sixth Respondent

TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED
Eighth Respondent

JUDGE:	FINN J
DATE OF ORDER:	20 MARCH 2012
WHERE MADE:	DARWIN

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1.The proceedings NTD 6001 of 2001 (Mataranka) and NTD 6026 of 2002 (Town of Mataranka) are to be heard separately.  

Note:Entry of orders is dealt with in Rule 39.32 of the Federal Court Rules 2011. 

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
NORTHERN TERRITORY DISTRICT REGISTRY
GENERAL DIVISION	NTD 6001 of 2001

BETWEEN:

JESSIE ROBERTS (FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE NAJIG AND THE GUYANGGAN NGANAWIRDBIRD GROUPS)
Applicant

AND:

NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
First Respondent

CAVE CREEK STATION PTY LTD
Second Respondent

GENERAL DIVISION NTD 6026 of 2002

BETWEEN:

JESSIE ROBERTS & OTHERS (FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE NAJIG AND THE GUYANGGAN NGANAWIRDBIRD GROUPS)
Applicant

AND:

NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
First Respondent

APT PIPELINES (NT) PTY LTD
Second Respondent

CONSERVATION LAND CORPORATION
Third Respondent

ROPER GULF SHIRE COUNCIL
Fourth Respondent

NORTHERN CEMENT LTD
Fifth Respondent

NORTHERN TERRITORY LAND CORPORATION
Sixth Respondent

TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED
Eighth Respondent

JUDGE:	FINN J
DATE:	20 MARCH 2012
PLACE:	DARWIN

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

1. In each of these matters orders were made by Reeves J on 4 February 2009 that they be heard together.  The parties in NTD 6026 of 2002 (Town of Mataranka) have reached a consent determination which is listed for judgment on Wednesday, 21 March 2012 in which a determination that native title exists in its respective application area is sought.  In the NTD 6001 of 2001 matter a consent determination is also being sought, albeit that no native title exists in its application area. 

2. In the circumstances, it is both appropriate and necessary that an order be made de-consolidating the hearing of the two proceedings.  Accordingly, I order that the proceedings NTD 6001 of 2001 (Mataranka) and NTD 6026 of 2002 (Town of Mataranka) are to be heard separately. 

I certify that the preceding two (2) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Finn.

Associate:

Dated:       20 March 2012