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[2010] FCA 859
Federal Court of Australia
2010-08-06
Ms J, Bennett J
Original judgment source is linked above.
BEING SATISFIED that a determination of native title in the terms set out in the attached Minute of Determination of Native Title in respect of WAD 6185 of 1998 would be within the power of the Court pursuant to section 94A of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth): THE COURT ORDERS THAT:
NGARLA PEOPLE (MOUNT GOLDSWORTHY LEASE PROCEEDING) DETERMINATION OF NATIVE TITLE THE COURT ORDERS, DECLARES AND DETERMINES THAT:
The nature and extent of native title rights and interests (s 225(b) Native Title Act) and exclusiveness of native title (s 225(e) Native Title Act)
Areas to which s 47A and s 47B of the Native Title Act applies
Relationship between native title rights and other interests
DETERMINATION AREA The Determination Area, generally shown as bordered in blue on the maps at Attachment 1 to the First Schedule, comprises all those land and waters the subject of Mineral Lease (Special Agreement) ML 235SA and sections 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 of Mineral Lease (Special Agreement) ML 249SA.
FIRST SCHEDULE ATTACHMENT 1 MAPS OF THE DETERMINATION AREA
UNCLAIMED AREAS The following areas, being land and waters where previous exclusive possession acts have occurred and native title has been completely extinguished, have been excluded from the Applicants' Amended Application for Native Title in WAD 6185 of 1998 and are excluded from the Determination Area in accordance with section 61A of the Native Title Act (and section 23C of the Native Title Act, and sections 12I and 12J of the Titles (Validation) and Native Title (Effect of Past Acts) Act 1995 (WA)). With the exception of public works (as described in clause 4 of this Schedule), all of the following areas are shown generally as shaded pink on the maps at Attachment 1 to the First Schedule.
AREAS WHERE NATIVE TITLE DOES NOT EXIST Native title does not exist in relation to the following land and waters within the Determination Area, which area is generally shown as shaded green on the maps at Attachment 1 to the First Schedule:
and thence northerly back to the commencement point. Note: Coordinates sourced from BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd (DRG. NO WV03352) Datum: MGA94, Grid Coordinates (Easting, Northing, Zone 50) Prepared By: Native Title Spatial Services (Landgate) 8th June 2010 Use of Coordinates: Where coordinates are used within the description to represent cadastral or topographical boundaries or the intersection with such, they are intended as a guide only. As an outcome to the custodians of cadastral and topographic data continuously recalculating the geographic position of their data based on improved survey and data maintenance procedures, it is not possible to accurately define such a position other than by detailed ground survey. OTHER INTERESTS
The nature and extent of the Other Interests in relation to the Determination Area as at the date of this determination are:
NATIVE TITLE HOLDERS The Native Title Holders are those persons who refer to themselves as Ngarla, being persons who:
GENERAL DIVISION WAD 6185 of 1998
BETWEEN: ALEXANDER BROWN, JEFFREY BROWN, CLINTON COOKE AND CHARLIE COPPIN ON BEHALF OF THE NGARLA PEOPLE
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT 1 In Brown (on behalf of the Ngarla people) v State of Western Australia [2007] FCA 1025 (Brown No 1), I made orders by consent in relation to Determination Area A, which was part of the land the subject of these proceedings, WAD 6185 of 1998. I ordered that there be a determination of native title, the native title rights and interests being those set out in Annexure A to that Determination. As I noted at [25], the continuous connection of the Ngarla people with Determination Area A was and is acknowledged by all parties. There was evidence to support that contention and I summarised that evidence at [25] to [27] of the reasons in Brown No 1. 2 Determination Area B was not included in the determination of native title in Brown No 1. Determination Area B included the land and waters the subject of the decision in Brown (on behalf of the Ngarla People) v State of Western Australia (No 2) [2010] FCA 498 (Brown No 2) (the Mt Goldsworthy Lease proceeding). The consideration of whether native title in the land and waters of the Mt Goldsworthy Leases had been extinguished, as to the whole or part of that land, was the subject of Brown No 2. The parties have proposed a Minute of Proposed Determination of Native Title (Mt Goldsworthy Lease Proceeding) (the proposed orders) to give effect to those reasons. 3 For the purposes of the Mt Goldsworthy Lease proceeding, the parties admitted and agreed that, subject to any extinguishment, native title as recognised in [5] of Annexure A of the determination of native title in Brown No 1 existed in the land and waters of the Mt Goldsworthy Leases. The evidence that supported the existence of native title in respect of Determination Area A, including the State's connection assessment process for the Ngarla native title determination of these proceedings and the Ngarla No 2 native title determination application WAD 77 of 2005, was in respect of the entirety of the Ngarla and Ngarla No 2 applications. That is, the evidence was applicable to the land and waters of the Mt Goldsworthy Leases the subject of Brown No 2. Further evidence in support of the association of Ngarla people with the area of the Mt Goldsworthy Leases was referred to in [44] - [48] of Brown No 2. 4 Having now determined the questions of extinguishment in Brown No 2, I am satisfied that the applicant is entitled to a determination in terms of the proposed orders. 5 For the purposes of the consent determination in Brown No 1, the Ngarla applicants nominated the Wanparta Aboriginal Corporation (the Corporation) as the prescribed body corporate to hold the native title of the claimant group on trust following the determination of these proceedings pursuant to s 56(2) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (the Act). As set out at [6], I was satisfied that the requirements of the Act and of the Native Title (Prescribed Bodies Corporate Regulations 1999 (Cth) (the Regulations) had been met. I ordered that the Corporation shall hold the determined native title in trust for the native title holders pursuant to s 56(2) of the Act. 6 The applicants submit that the Act and Regulations are sufficiently satisfied so as to allow the Court to determine that the Corporation is to hold the native title rights and interest in trust for the common law holders pursuant to s 56(2)(b) of the Act following the determination of the Mt Goldsworthy Lease Proceeding. The documents filed in the Court on behalf of the applicant by its legal representatives for the purpose of the determination of native title in Brown No 1 included a notice of nomination of the Corporation as a prescribed body corporate pursuant to s 56(2)(a)(i) of the Act and the written consent of the Corporation, dated 14 April 2007 to be the prescribed body corporate pursuant to s 56(2)(a)(ii) of the Act. Those documents apply generally to the Ngarla and Ngarla No 2 applications and are, accordingly, applicable for a determination made in respect of the Mt Goldsworthy Lease Proceeding. I am satisfied that the requirements of Act and Regulations have been met in respect of the Wanparta Aboriginal Corporation for the purposes of these proceedings. I certify that the preceding six (6) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Bennett.
Brown (on behalf of the Ngarla People)
State of Western Australia