The affidavit of Mr Kelly
4 The Mackay applicants object to the following paragraphs of Mr Kelly's affidavit:
7. In addition to these Noongar Claims, which had been brought on behalf of separate and distinct native title claim groups, a commonality of traditional laws and customs that had been observed by these groups, and a common identity as Noongar People, led, in 2003, to 60 individuals (SNC Applicant), many of them applicants on other Noongar Claims, being authorised to commence a Single Noongar Claim.
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18. Following the execution of the Heads of Agreement, the nature of the South West Settlement changed. While the South West Settlement continued to be a negotiation between the Noongar People generally and the State, the mechanism through which we were able to pursue a comprehensive agreement was by seeking a resolution of the underlying Noongar Claims. Because we were now going to be resolving the underlying Noongar Claims, a mechanism for the negotiations had to involve the claimants themselves, and the mechanism the Working Parties chose was the establishment of a Noongar Negotiation Team.
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26. After a rigorous negotiation process, the Noongar Negotiation Team (on behalf of the Noongar People) and the State agreed in principle that the South West Settlement would include:
(a) on the one hand, the agreement of all Noongar People to the surrender to the State of all native title rights and interests that might exist in relation to land and waters in the Settlement Area; and
(b) in return, the provision by the State of an extensive package of financial and in-kind benefits, the value of which has been put at approximately $1.3 billion…
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28. The decision to divide the Settlement Area in this way was made for cultural as well as practical reasons. The Working Parties and Noongar Negotiation Team agreed that this regional structure was closer to Noongar cultural boundaries and was more respectful of the internal estates that exist within Noongar culture. In my view, one of the main drawbacks of the Single Noongar Claim, and one of the main criticisms voiced by Noongar People, had been that the Claim gave equal footing to all Noongar People over all of Noongar country and did not properly respect the many different estates that exist within Noongar society and country. This division of the Settlement Area gave assurance to people that a person or family's country could not be interfered with by someone with no connection to it. This is a very important cultural consideration that I wanted to make sure was taken into account as much as possible.
29. This approach also meant that there would need to be separate decision making and authorisation processes in six areas, rather than one overarching Single Noongar Claim process. While this created a much larger and more formidable authorisation task, we considered that it would maximise involvement from people across Noongar country by bringing decision making and the disciplines leading up to it to each group of people.
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72. At a Board Meeting held on 29 April 2015, the Board Members agreed that the Identification Requirement and the Authorisation Requirement had been met in relation to the making of each of the six Settlement ILUAs, and decided that the ILUA registration applications could and should be certified. However, because I had intimate and detailed knowledge of the relevant processes undertaken, the Board resolved that I should be the one authorised to, on behalf of SWALSC, attend to the technicalities of the certification process.
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74. Prior to this meeting, I had formed the views that the Identification and Authorisation Requirements had been satisfied, and that it would be in order to certify the Settlement ILUA Registration Applications. I communicated these views to the Board, giving my reasons, at the 29 April 2015 meeting. Having taken on board my presentation and reasons, the Board members arrived at the same views that the Identification and Authorisation Requirements had been satisfied, and that it would be in order to certify the Settlement ILUA Registration Applications. It was after doing so that the Board charged me with the responsibility of putting everything into effect. This included:
(a) instructing Mr Le Roux to prepare the statements and the reasons required by s 203BE(6) of the NTA in relation to each certification;
(b) settling those reasons;
(c) signing the statements; and
(d) providing the statements and reasons to the State for inclusion in the applicable Settlement ILUA registration applications.
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77. Given this context, it was clear to me that the Board's resolution at the 29 April 2015 meeting involved it carrying out its statutory certification function. The Board formed the requisite opinions and then made the resolution to give effect to its decision that the ILUAs should be signed (not that I should consider whether or not to sign them) and that there should be certification of the application. I note that clause 9.5 of the Settlement ILUAs (as to which, see paragraph 80 below) contained a commitment to issue a certificate and so the decision to sign the ILUAs was also a decision to certify the application. This is the context in which the terms of the resolution were approved.
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79. Clause 5.4(b) and (c) of each of the Settlement ILUAs contain SWALSC's representation and warranty that it is of the opinion that:
(a) all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all persons who hold or may hold native title in relation to land and waters in each Agreement Area have been identified; and
(b) all the persons so identified have (within the meaning of s 251A of the NTA) authorised the making of the ILUA.
80. Clause 9.5 of each of the Settlement ILUAs, which is headed "Written certification":
(a) details SWALSC's agreement, having satisfied itself that the requirements of s 203BE(5) of the NTA have been met, to provide the written certification referred to in s 203BE(1)(b) of the NTA for the applicable registration application;
(b) notes that the written certification will be in the form, or substantially in the form, set out in Schedule 5 to the ILUA; and
(c) includes SWALSC's further warranty that, to the best of its knowledge, it is not aware of any circumstance that would prevent it from providing written certification in accordance with clause 9.5.
5 The McGlade applicants object to para 72 and para 74 of Mr Kelly's affidavit.
6 The Mackay applicants challenge para 7 on the ground that it is hearsay, with no basis expressed for the Mr Kelly's claimed knowledge of what led 60 individuals to commence a Single Noongar Claim. SWALSC submits that the paragraph places events in context and deposes to fact which are not contentious, being information which is already in evidence. SWALSC points to its submissions to the Native Title Registrar to the same effect. The objection will be upheld in part on the reasons it is based, striking out "a commonality of traditional laws and customs that had been observed by these groups, and a common identity as Noongar People, led," and the "to" prior to the reference to "60 individuals". The word "being" will be struck out and replaced with "[were]" for grammatical sense.
7 The Mackay applicants object to the whole of para 18 on the basis that it is argumentative and conclusory in nature, not amounting to evidence of facts. SWALSC contends Mr Kelly is merely deposing to the circumstances that led to the establishment of the Noongar Negotiation Team by a person involved in the decision making. Further, it is contended that the allegedly argumentative nature of evidence is no reason for its exclusion. The objection will be disallowed. The statement is and will be treated as being no more than a reflection of Mr Kelly's understanding of facts.
8 The objection taken by the Mackay applicants to para 26(b) is to the words "the value of which has been put at approximately $1.3 billion". The Mackay applicants contend this is a hearsay statement, with no attribution of the source of the claimed value, against the backdrop that the individual figures stated do not total the claimed value. This objection should be allowed on the basis made, but it is noted that information to the same effect is already in evidence and the value of the package does no more than provide context to the settlement.
9 Paragraph 28 and para 29 are said to contain an intermingling of hearsay statements, some with no source identified, and the deponent's personal views, which have no relevance. SWALSC's response is that the paragraphs give context to settlement and explain structure of ILUAs. Both paragraphs are relied upon to show how SWALSC and its officers were intimately involved in process leading to authorisation. Personal views are contended not to be irrelevant. The objections to these paragraphs should be dismissed. The explanation is given by one of the asserted actual decision-makers. It explains his views and it is open to the parties to make submissions as to the relevance, if any, of those views.
10 The Mackay applicants object to para 72 on the basis it is hearsay evidence, without the deponent stating the basis of his information or belief. The McGlade applicants object on a similar basis. SWALSC submits para 72 is not hearsay as the deponent was present at the meeting and can indicate to what directors (whom he briefed) agreed. Mr Kelly cannot do so in such summary form. This objection will be allowed. The minutes generally speak for themselves subject to any appropriate inferences which may be drawn.
11 As to para 74, the Mackay applicants' objection is on the same basis as 72, that it is hearsay evidence, without the deponent stating the basis of his information or belief. The McGlade applicants also object to this paragraph. The McGlade applicants' objection is directed specifically to the third and fourth sentences commencing with "Having taken on board …". The challenge is that Mr Kelly's opinion regarding the matters in s 203BE does not establish that the representative body itself held those opinions. The McGlade applicants object to this evidence that is said to purport to express the views of SWALSC's directors. SWALSC argues the statement is not hearsay as it expresses views that the deponent had formed; what he communicated to the Board; what he understood that the Board agreed; and what he then did as part of certification process. It also provides the temporal order and relationship of the steps described. This is in substance a narrative of the content of produced Board minutes. This objection will be allowed. The minutes generally speak for themselves subject to any appropriate inferences.
12 Paragraph 77 is objected to in its entirety, though on different bases. The Mackay applicants object to the first sentence on the ground that it is unqualified expert or opinion evidence. The objection to this sentence should be upheld, but on the basis that this is a question of law. The second sentence is said to be a form of hearsay evidence, without the deponent stating the basis of his information or belief. This is in substance a narrative which is the content of produced Board minutes. This objection will be allowed. The minutes generally speak for themselves subject to any appropriate inferences. The rest of para 77 is objected to on the basis that it is in the nature of a submission. This objection will be upheld for that reason.
13 Finally, in respect of para 79 and para 80, the Mackay applicants object on the basis this is in the nature of submissions. This is different from para 77 and the objection will be dismissed as these paragraphs simply set out cl 5.4 and cl 9.5 of each ILUA.