The Lardil, Kaiadilt, Yangkaal and Gangalidda Peoples v State of Queensland

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT THE COURT: 1 When judgment in this matter was delivered the parties were invited to make further submissions as to the appeal against the order for costs made below and as to the costs of the appeal. The Court has now considered the submissions provided by the parties and is of the view that the proceedings before Cooper J were within the jurisdiction conferred by subs 213(2) of the Act and that s 85A does not apply for reasons previously given. The appellants' submission that his Honour misdirected himself as to the law in observing that "There is no reason why costs should not follow the event" is therefore not able to be made out. That view was fairly open to his Honour, having considered all of the issues, and we see no basis for interfering in the order. The appeal should be dismissed. 2 As to the question of the costs of appeal, we are of the view that they, too, should follow the event. We have considered the submissions advanced by the appellants in favour of a contrary order. The first of these is that the application for, and grant of, the authority occurred without notice to them. While this may be so, we do not see that it justified the appellants in commencing proceedings which misconceived the nature of their position under the Native Title Act. As to the issues arising under State legislation, the fact that his Honour considered that it was not appropriate to determine those matters did not justify the appellants in continuing to urge them on appeal, given that they were without substance. 3 The first, second, third and eleventh respondents appeared on the hearing of the appeal. We do not understand the eleventh respondent to seek any order for costs. We order that the appellants pay the costs of the appeal of the first, second and third respondents, such costs to be taxed. I certify that the preceding three (3) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of The Court.