Dodd on behalf of the Middamia Native Title Claim Group v State of Western Australia
[2024] FCA 214
At a glance
Source factsCourt
Federal Court of Australia
Decision date
2024-03-11
Before
Burley J
Catchwords
- NATIVE TITLE - consent determination of native title - agreement of the parties - requirements of s 87 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) satisfied - appropriate to make orders
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Catchwords
Judgment (23 paragraphs)
THE COURT NOTES THAT: A. The Applicant in proceeding WAD 192/2022 has made an application for a determination of native title determination pursuant to section 61 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (NT Act) (Middamia Application). B. The Applicant, the State and the other Respondents to this proceeding (together, the parties) have reached an agreement as to the terms of a determination which is to be made in relation to the land and waters the subject of the Middamia Application. C. Pursuant to section 87 of the NT Act the parties have filed with the Court a minute of proposed consent determination of Native Title (Minute) which reflects the terms of the agreement reached by the parties in relation to the Middamia Application. D. The terms of the agreement involve the making of consent orders for a determination, pursuant to sections 87 and 94A of the NT Act, that native title exists in relation to the land and waters the subject of the Middamia Application (Determination). E. The parties acknowledge that the effect of the Determination is that the members of the native title claim group, in accordance with the traditional laws acknowledged and traditional customs observed by them, will be recognised as the native title holders for the area the subject of the Middamia Application (Determination Area) on the basis set out in the Determination. F. The pastoral respondents have agreed to the terms of the Minute on the basis of having reached agreement with the Applicant in relation to the pastoral leases that are situated within the Determination Area. Following the determination taking effect, the agreements will be executed and application will be made for the agreements to be registered as Indigenous Land Use Agreements on the Register of Indigenous Land Use Agreements as body corporate agreements pursuant to section 24BG of the NT Act. G. Pursuant to section 87(2) of the NT Act, the parties have requested that the Court determine the Middamia Application without holding a hearing. H. The Applicant has nominated the Middamia Aboriginal Corporation (ICN: 10156) pursuant to section 56(2)(a) of the NT Act to hold the determined native title in trust for the native title holders. I. The Middamia Aboriginal Corporation (ICN: 10156) has consented in writing to hold the determined native title in trust for the native title holders. BEING SATISFIED that a determination of native title in the terms set out in the Minute is within the power of the Court and appropriate, by the consent of the parties and pursuant to sections 87 and 94A of the NT Act: