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[2016] FCA 1505
Federal Court of Australia
2016-12-13
Ms J, Reeves J
Original judgment source is linked above.
THE COURT NOTES THAT: A. The Applicant has brought Native Title Determination Application QUD 80 of 2005 ("the Application") which relates to an area which includes the land and waters the subject of the proposed determination. B. On 18 March 2014, a determination that native title exists was made by consent by the Federal Court of Australia over part of the land and waters of the area covered by the Application. C. The parties to the Application that hold an interest in relation to the remainder of the land or waters of the area covered by the Application have asked the Court to make a consent order for a determination of native title over that area. BEING SATISFIED that an order in the terms set out below is within the power of the Court, and it appearing appropriate to the Court to do so, pursuant to s 87 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), BY CONSENT THE COURT ORDERS THAT:
1 Where an area is depicted on more than one sheet, only the first sheet number is referenced. Part 2 -- Non-Exclusive Urban Areas (Aboriginal land areas) All of the land and waters described in the following table and depicted in yellow on the determination map: Area Description (as at date of determination) Determination map sheet number2 *Lot 4 on Plan MPH20728 6 *Lot 57 on Plan CP898014 5 *Lot 7957 on Plan SP271425 (formerly Lot 7957 on Plan MPH20866) 5
2 Where an area is depicted on more than one sheet, only the first sheet number is referenced.
3 Where an area is depicted on more than one sheet, only the first sheet number is referenced.
then westerly to a point on the eastern boundary of an un-named road reserve and the western boundary of the second most north easterly severance of Lot 6 on Plan SP146633 (the severance being immediately west of the Kennedy Developmental Road reserve) at Latitude 19.982842° South; then generally northerly along the eastern boundary of that road reserve and the Kennedy Developmental Road reserve to Latitude 19.694482° South; then generally north easterly and generally south easterly passing through the following coordinate points: Longitudeo (East) Latitudeo (South) 144.325347 19.566703 144.345351 19.536735 144.351119 19.448476 144.434451 19.448475 144.469046 19.455856 144.499055 19.444968 144.596964 19.386766 144.607123 19.359052 144.644071 19.321176 144.692755 19.236545 144.963558 19.305256 145.044257 19.277876 145.076964 19.271831 145.121401 19.264720 145.160863 19.265787 145.184326 19.282854 145.204946 19.298853 145.238141 19.315069 145.464464 19.397699 145.607733 19.404810 145.927306 19.389862 146.167280 19.483737 146.179336 19.489603 146.262736 19.543014 146.292074 19.557061 146.307084 19.566282 146.323354 19.572376 146.331931 19.584786 146.348769 19.602358 146.365236 19.618097 146.369994 19.620740 146.425587 19.671857 146.438719 19.679959 146.456164 19.693178 146.475196 19.712741 146.506387 19.735475 146.527533 19.747636 146.560310 19.769314 146.573527 19.782004 146.578284 19.789406 146.599048 19.804043 146.605276 19.824879
then south easterly to a point on the western boundary of native title determination QUD 6244 of 1998 Birriah People (QCD2016/001) at Longitude 146.614965o East, Latitude 19.846002o South; then generally south westerly along that native title determination boundary passing through the following coordinate points: Longitudeo (East) Latitudeo (South) 146.601231 19.849477 146.563847 19.862509 146.523795 19.880315 146.473331 19.911258 146.429911 19.965524 146.416086 19.985842
then south westerly back to the commencement point. The determination does not cover any areas subject to: the land and waters subject to native title determination QUD 80 of 2005 Gudjala People #1 Part A as determined by the Federal Court on 18 March 2014; the land and waters subject to native title determination application QUD147 of 2006 Gudjala People #2 as accepted for registration on 30 June 2010; and the land and waters subject to native title determination QUD147 of 2006 Gudjala People #2 Part A as determined by the Federal Court on 18 March 2014. Data reference and source Native title determination application QUD 6244 of 1998 Birriah People (QC1998/012) as accepted for registration on 14 August 2007. Mining tenement data sources from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (October 2013), unless otherwise indicated. Cadastre data sourced from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (August 2013). Reference datum Geographical coordinates have been provided by the National Native Title Tribunal Geospatial Services and are referenced to the Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94) in decimal degrees and are based on the spatial reference data acquired from the various custodians at the time. 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. Prepared by Geospatial Services, National Native Title Tribunal (24 October 2013). B. Map of Determination Area Schedule 2 -- AREAS NOT FORMING PART OF THE DETERMINATION AREA The areas described below do not form part of the Determination Area.
4 Where an area is depicted on more than one sheet, only the first sheet number is referenced. 3. The land and waters described in (1) above includes the land or waters upon which any public work, as defined in s 253 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), is or was constructed, established or situated, and to which ss 23B(7) and 23C(2) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) and/or s 21 of the Native Title (Queensland) Act 1993 (Qld) applies, together with any adjacent land or waters in accordance with s 251D of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth). 4. Specifically, and to avoid any doubt, the areas described in (3) above include, but are not limited to, the whole of the land and waters described as: Area Description (as at date of determination) Determination map sheet number5 That part of Lot 111 on Plan DV342 commencing at the southwest corner of Lot 111 on Plan DV342 and extending northerly along the western boundary of that lot to Latitude 20.061725° South, then generally easterly through Longitude 146.280344° East, Latitude 20.061764° South to the eastern boundary of Lot 111 on Plan DV342 at Latitude 20.061606°S, then southerly and westerly along the eastern and southern boundaries of that lot back to the commencement point. Coordinates are referenced to the Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94) 4 That part of Lot 1 on Plan CT182102 identified as road and delineated by stations 7.6.4.5.7 and 9.8.8a.12.11.9a.9 on Plan CT182102 5 Lot 21 on Plan DV676 4 Lot 268 on Plan DV676 4
5 Where an area is depicted on more than one sheet, only the first sheet number is referenced. Schedule 3 -- NATIVE TITLE HOLDERS The native title holders are the Gudjala People. The Gudjala People are the descendants of one or more of the following people: (a) Alice Anning (also known as Alice White) of Bluff Downs Station; (b) Cissy McGregor; (c) Maggie "Ton Ton" Thompson; (d) Topsy Hann; or (e) Zoe (mother of Hoya Siemon/Bowman). Schedule 4 -- OTHER INTERESTS IN THE DETERMINATION AREA The nature and extent of the other interests in relation to the Determination Area are the following as they exist as at the date of the determination:
REEVES J: 1 In 2005 and 2006, Ms Elizabeth Dodd, Mr Andrew (Smokey) Anderson, Ms Gloria Santo, Ms Christine Hero and Ms Priscilla Michelle Huen, for and on behalf of the Gudjala People filed two native title determination applications with this Court: QUD 80 of 2005 and QUD 147 of 2006 (the applications). Both applications related to various areas of land and waters in and around Charters Towers in north Queensland. 2 In 2013, during the course of case management by a Registrar of the Court, the parties agreed that, save for certain areas that were affected by the existence of military orders issued pursuant to reg 54 of the National Security (General) Regulations 1939 (Cth) (the military orders areas), both of the applications could proceed to a consent determination over those parts of the claim area where, it was agreed, native title could exist. The military orders areas were identified in an affidavit of Michael Paul Everitt filed by the State of Queensland on 22 November 2013. 3 On 27 November 2013, programming orders were made in each proceeding permitting all parts of the claim area, except the military orders areas (Gudjala Part A in each of the applications) to proceed to a consent determination in accordance with s 87A of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (the NTA). On 18 March 2014, Gudjala Part A of each application was determined by Logan J (Dodd on behalf of the Gudjala People Core Country Claim #1 v State of Queensland (No 3) [2014] FCA 231 (Dodd)). 4 The question of extinguishment affecting the military orders areas was finally determined by the High Court in State of Queensland v Congoo (2015) 256 CLR 239; [2015] HCA 17. Soon thereafter, negotiations commenced for a final determination with respect to the military orders areas in each application. 5 The Gudjala Applicant and the remaining respondent parties, the State of Queensland, Charters Towers Regional Council, Flinders Shire Council, Ergon Energy Corporation Limited, Citigold Corporation Limited, Great Mines Pty. Ltd and various pastoralists, have now informed the Court that they have reached agreement on the terms of orders that should be made to determine the balance of the two proceedings (the proposed orders). The terms of that agreement were filed with the Court on 8 November 2016 (the s 87A agreement - see [6] below). Accordingly, the parties have requested that the Court make a determination of native title under s 87 of the NTA in, or consistent with, the terms of the proposed orders. 6 While the parties have described their agreement as an agreement that has been made under s 87 of the NTA, in the circumstances of these two applications, I consider the determinations with respect to the remaining parts of the claim areas must be dealt with under s 87A. That is so because these determinations will relate to a part - the remainder - of the area covered by the two applications (see s 87A(1)(b)) and not to a part of the proceedings (see s 87(1)(a)(ii)). 7 In practical terms, this distinction between s 87A and s 87 of the NTA is of little significance in these two matters. That is so because, while those sections of the NTA use different terminology and apply to different circumstances - s 87 to the settlement of a part of a proceeding and s 87A to a settlement relating to a part of a claim area in an application - the procedural and substantive conditions for the making of a consent determination in both sections are essentially the same. For example, s 87(1)(b) requiring the terms of the agreement to be in writing and signed by or on behalf of the parties; s 87(1A) requiring the Court to consider whether it is appropriate to make the orders sought; and s 87(1)(c) requiring the Court to be satisfied that the proposed orders are within the power of the Court, are reflected in almost identical terms in ss 87A(1)(d), 87A(4)(b) and 87A(4)(a), respectively. 8 The power of the Court to give effect to the parties' agreement is, in this instance, therefore founded on s 87A of the NTA. That section sets out the various conditions which will trigger the jurisdiction of the Court in the event that the parties reach agreement on the terms of an order to resolve a proceeding where the agreement relates to a part of the claim area (s 87A(1)(b)). The first condition is that the notice period under s 66 of the NTA must have ended prior to the parties' written agreement being filed with the Court (s 87A(1)(b)). The National Native Title Tribunal's notification of the Gudjala #1 application was completed on 13 March 2006 and the Tribunal notification of the Gudjala #2 application was completed on 2 February 2011. Thus, that condition has been met. 9 Secondly, the agreement of the parties must relate to an area (the determination area) which is included in the area covered by the application (s 87A(1)(b)). As I have already observed above, in this instance the agreement of the parties relates to the remaining parts of the two applications. Accordingly, that condition is also met. Thirdly, all of the parties described in s 87A(1)(c) must be parties to the agreement. That condition, too, is met because both the Gudjala Applicant on behalf of the Gudjala native title claim group and the remaining respondent parties (see at [5] above) are described as parties to the s 87A agreement. Fourthly, the terms of the agreement must be signed by or on behalf of those parties (s 87A(1)(d)). It is apparent from the s 87A agreement filed with the Court on 8 November 2016 that condition has also been met. 10 Having satisfied those matters, the next condition is that the Court must be satisfied that an order in the terms of the order sought, or an order consistent with those terms, would be within the power of the Court (s 87A(4)(a)). An order will be within the power of the Court if it complies with s 94A of the NTA, if the rights and interests included in the proposed determinations are recognisable by the common law of Australia and if there is no other determination in existence over the area the subject of the proposed determinations. 11 Section 94A requires the Court, in making a determination of native title, to set out the details of the matters mentioned in s 225 of the NTA. Section 225 outlines the content of a determination of native title as: A determination of native title is a determination whether or not native title exists in relation to a particular area (the determination area) of land and waters and, if it does exist, a determination of: (a) who the persons, or each group of persons, holding the common or group rights comprising the native title are; and (b) the nature and extent of the native title rights and interests in relation to the determination area; and (c) the nature and extent of any other interests in relation to the determination area; and (d) the relationship between the rights and interests in paragraphs (b) and (c) (taking into account the effect of this Act); and (e) to the extent that the land or waters in the determination area are not covered by a non-exclusive agricultural lease or a non-exclusive pastoral lease - whether the native title rights and interests confer possession, occupation, use and enjoyment of that land or waters on the native title holders to the exclusion of all others. 12 The expressions "native title" and "native title rights and interests" are defined in s 223 of the NTA. I have examined the terms of the proposed orders and I am satisfied that each of the matters referred to in s 225 of the NTA are appropriately articulated therein. Further, I am satisfied that the native title rights and interests that are proposed to be recognised in the proposed orders are of the kind defined in s 223, that is they are supported by the evidentiary material filed by the Gudjala Applicant, including the extensive anthropological reports by Dr Anthony Redmond and the historical report by Ms Val Donovan, and are therefore capable of recognition by the common law of Australia. Finally, I note that there is no other determination of native title in existence over each of the areas that are the subject of the orders I will make. 13 As to the remaining subsections of s 87A, since all the parties to these two applications are parties to the s 87A agreement, the notice requirements of s 87A(3) and the objection provisions of s 87A(8) do not arise for consideration in this matter. As well, none of the parties has elected to file an agreed statement of facts so I do not need to concern myself with ss 87A(9) to 87A(12) inclusive. 14 The final condition the parties need to meet in order to have the Court make a consent determination of native title concerns the operation of s 87A(4)(b) of the NTA. That section requires the Court to be satisfied that it is appropriate to make a determination in terms of the parties' agreement. 15 In Nelson v Northern Territory of Australia (2010) 190 FCR 344; [2010] FCA 1343 (at [5]-[13]), I canvassed the authorities that identified the factors to which the Court will routinely have regard in determining this question of "appropriateness". It is not necessary for me to repeat all those observations here, it will suffice to set out the concluding summary as follows (at [14]): It follows from all these considerations that the central issue in an application for a consent determination under s 87 is whether there exists a free and informed agreement between the parties. In this respect, the process followed by the State party respondent, particularly how it goes about assessing the underlying evidence as to the existence of native title is critical. Other critical factors, all directed to the processes that lead to the agreement and what was agreed, that have been previously identified by the Court include: whether the parties have independent and competent legal representation..; whether the terms of the proposed order are unambiguous and clear …; and whether the agreement has been preceded by a mediation process … See also the summary of the above matters set out in Pwerle v Northern Territory [2016] FCA 304 at [20] and the observations of Logan J in Dodd at [16]-[18]. 16 In determining this question, first, I have been assisted by the outline of submissions filed by the Gudjala Applicant. Secondly, I have taken account of the review of the materials that were placed before the Court in Dodd to demonstrate that native title existed in Gudjala Part A (see Dodd at [23]-[33]). Since the areas in Gudjala Part A are geographically close to the military orders areas that are the subject of these determinations, I consider those materials can generally be translated to these claim areas. Thirdly, I take account of the fact that the s 87A agreement in this matter was reached after intensive case management on the part of a Registrar of this Court and throughout the proceedings, all the parties were represented by independent and competent lawyers. Finally, I consider the terms of the s 87A agreement which is filed with the Court are unambiguous and clear. I am therefore satisfied that the s 87A agreement of the parties was entered into on a free and informed basis. 17 Thus far, I have been addressing the native title related features of the proposed orders as raised by s 225(a) and s 225(b) of the NTA. It is convenient, next, to turn to, what I will describe as, the tenure-related issues raised by s 225(c) to s 225(e) inclusive. Those subsections are as follows: A determination of native title is a determination whether or not native title exists in relation to a particular area (the determination area) of land or waters and, if it does exist, a determination of: … (c) the nature and extent of any other interests in relation to the determination area; and (d) the relationship between the rights and interests in paragraphs (b) and (c) (taking into account the effect of this Act); and (e) to the extent that the land or waters in the determination area are not covered by a non‑exclusive agricultural lease or a non‑exclusive pastoral lease - whether the native title rights and interests confer possession, occupation, use and enjoyment of that land or waters on the native title holders to the exclusion of all others. 18 With respect to these tenure-related issues, I raised some concerns with the parties similar to those that I raised in Bar Barrum #5: see Kynuna on behalf of the Bar Barrum People #5 v State of Queensland [2016] FCA 1504 (Bar Barrum #5) at [38]-[46]. Subsequently, the parties provided an amended form of Schedules 2 and 4 to the proposed orders which: (a) deleted the reference to s 47 of the NTA in clause 1(b) of Schedule 2 in both matters; (b) deleted clause 7 from Gudjala #1 and clause 6 from Gudjala #2 of Schedule 4; and (c) amended clauses 7 and 8 of Gudjala #1 and clauses 6 and 7 of Gudjala #2 in Schedule 4. 19 Having regard to the apposite provisions of the NTA, the observations I made in Bar Barrum #5 about the streamlined approach to tenure assessments at [29]-[36] and for the reasons stated in Bar Barrum #5: at [37]-[41] in relation to [18(a)] above, noting that in these two applications the claimants were pursuing claims under ss 47A and 47B, but not under s 47 of the NTA; at [44] in relation to [18(b)] above; and at [45] in relation to [18(c)] above; I consider these amendments were appropriate to be included in these determination orders. 20 As with the Gudjala Part A determinations, the native title rights and interests the subject of these determinations are not to be held on trust. That brings into operation the provisions of s 57 of the NTA, specifically s 57(2). It provides: If the determination under section 56 is not as mentioned in subsection (1) of this section, the Federal Court must take the following steps in determining which prescribed body corporate is, after becoming a registered native title body corporate, to perform the functions mentioned in subsection (3): (a) first, it must request a representative of the common law holders to: (i) nominate, in writing given to the Federal Court within a specified period, a prescribed body corporate for the purpose; and (ii) include with the nomination the written consent of the body corporate; (b) secondly, if a prescribed body corporate is nominated in accordance with the request, the Federal Court must determine that the body is to perform the functions; (c) thirdly, if no prescribed body corporate is nominated in accordance with the request, the Federal Court must, in accordance with the regulations, determine which prescribed body corporate is to perform the functions. 21 The determination under s 57(1) mentioned in this subsection is a determination under s 56 that the native title rights and interests are to be held in trust. On 3 August 2016, the Gudjala Applicant filed a Notice of Nomination and Consent of the Prescribed Body Corporate nominating the Ngrragoonda Aboriginal Corporation ICN 7982 (the Corporation) to be the Prescribed Body Corporate to perform the functions set out in s 57(3) of the NTA. I therefore determine that the Corporation is the body corporate that is to perform those functions. 22 For these reasons, I am satisfied that all of the conditions in s 87A of the NTA have been met and it is appropriate to make determinations of native title that are consistent with the terms of the proposed orders, as amended, without holding a hearing. I certify that the preceding twenty-two (22) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Reeves.
SCHEDULE OF PARTIES QUD 80 of 2005 Respondents Fourth Respondent: ERGON ENERGY CORPORATION LIMITED Fifth Respondent: CITIGOLD CORPORATION LIMITED Sixth Respondent: RICHARD DUDLEY ANNING Seventh Respondent: HENRY JAMES ATKINSON Eighth Respondent: SUSAN ATKINSON Ninth Respondent: MICHELLE MAREE BURGE Tenth Respondent: JOHN DAVID BURGE Eleventh Respondent: HELEN MARGARET COOK Twelfth Respondent: PHILLIP LEONARD COOK Thirteenth Respondent: JACQUELINE OLGA CORE HEATH Fourteenth Respondent: WARREN ROBERT JACKSON Fifteenth Respondent: ROBERT CHARLES LAWRIE TRADING AS RC & JJ LAWRIE Sixteenth Respondent: ELIZABETH ANNE LYONS Seventeenth Respondent: GERARD FRANCES LYONS Eighteenth Respondent: JOHN DOMINIC LYONS Nineteenth Respondent: RONDA MARGARET LYONS Twentieth Respondent: LYNETTE MARGARET MAITLAND Twenty-First Respondent: PERCY WILLIAM GEORGE MAITLAND Twenty-Second Respondent: HECTOR EDMOND MOODY Twenty-Third Respondent: MARGARET JEAN MOODY Twenty-Fourth Respondent: NACRE PTY LTD Twenty-Fifth Respondent: TREVOR TORKINGTON Twenty-Sixth Respondent: VENETTA BAVERLEY TORKINGTON Twenty-Seventh Respondent: DANIEL JOHN TURLEY Twenty-Eighth Respondent: MARIE ANN TURLEY Twenty-Ninth Respondent: JOHN NORMAN JAMES WEIR Thirtieth Respondent: PRUE ANN WEIR Thirty-First Respondent: LESLIE ARTHUR BRAZIER Thirty-Second Respondent: MARION LINDA BRAZIER
Dodd on behalf of the Gudjala People Core Country Claim #1
State of Queensland