NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Marianne Velickovic & Ors on behalf of Widji/Western Australia/Janet Mears, [2012] NNTTA 36 (19 April 2012)

Application No:	WO11/1261

IN THE MATTER of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)

-and-

IN THE MATTER of an inquiry into expedited procedure objection application

Marianne Velickovic & Ors on behalf of Widji 	(native title party)

-and-

The State of Western Australia 			(government party)

-and-

Janet Mears 						(grantee party)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATIONS
Tribunal:	John Sosso, Deputy President
Place:	Perth
Date of dismissal:	16 April 2012
Date of reasons:	19 April 2012

Catchwords:  Native title – future act – proposed grant of prospecting licence – expedited procedure objection application – failure to comply with directions – springing order dismissing expedited procedure objection application in event of non-compliance – objection application dismissed.

Legislation:	Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) ss 29, 148(b)

Cases:	Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Frederick Saunders, NNTT WO05/564, [2006] NNTTA 76 (15 June 2006), Hon C J Sumner

Representative of the
native title party:  	Mr Jerome Frewen, Desert Management Pty Ltd
Representative of the 
government party:	Mr Clyde Lannan, Department of Mines and Petroleum
Representative of the	
grantee party:	Ms Janet Mears

REASONS FOR DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION
Background
[1]	On 2 November 2011, the Government party gave notice under s 29 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) of its intention to grant prospecting licence P15/5643 to Janet Mears (the grantee party) and included in the notice a statement that it considered that the grant attracted the expedited procedure.
[2]	On 2 November 2011, Marianne Velickovic & Ors on behalf of Widji – Native Title Claim No WC98/27, registered from 15 June 1998 (the native title party) lodged an expedited procedure objection application with the Tribunal in relation to P15/5643.
Relevant facts
[3]	The Tribunal made directions on 20 December 2011 requiring all parties to produce contentions and evidence for the conduct of the inquiry to determine whether or not the expedited procedure was attracted.  The native title party was to provide a statement of contentions, documentary evidence and witness statements verified where possible by affidavits on or before 16 April 2012.  The directions imposed a springing order which has the effect of immediately dismissing the objection application pursuant to s 148(b) of the Native Title Act if there is non-compliance by the due date.  In making the decision to impose the springing order I adopted the Tribunal’s findings in Leonne Velickovic on behalf of the Widji People/Western Australia/Frederick Saunders, NNTT WO05/564, [2006] NNTTA 76 (15 June 2006), Hon C J Sumner at [15]–[21].  The native title party has failed to comply by the due date.
Decision
[4]	Expedited procedure objection application WO11/1261 is dismissed pursuant to s 148(b) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).

John Sosso
Deputy President