Gumana v Northern Territory of Australia [2007] FCAFC 23

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Gumana v Northern Territory of Australia [2007] FCAFC 23

ABORIGINES – land rights – grant of fee simple estate to land trust – effect of grant in inter-tidal zone – whether exclusive possession – whether excludes power of Northern Territory Director of Fisheries to grant fishing licences in area NATIVE TITLE – inter-tidal zone – non-recognition at sovereignty of exclusive rights of possession in inter-tidal zone – whether a form of extinguishment – whether amenable to operation of s 47A of Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) mandating conditional disregard of extinguishment – native title holders – membership of group – spouses of clan members – access – non-exclusive possession – whether right to control access by other Aboriginal people Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Fisheries Act 1988 (NT) Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) s 47A Aboriginal Land Act 1978 (NT) Northern Territory (Self Government Act) 1978 (Cth) Coastal Waters (Northern Territory Powers) Act 1980 (Cth) Northern Territory Acceptance Act 1910 (Cth) Director of Fisheries (NT) v Arnhem Land Aboriginal Land Trust (2001) 109 FCR 488 cited Gumana v Northern Territory (2005) 141 FCR 457 cited Commonwealth v Yarmirr (2000) 101 FCR 171 not followed Milirrpum v Nabalco Pty Ltd (1970) 17 FLR 141 cited Risk v Northern Territory (2002) 210 CLR 392 considered Arnhemland Aboriginal Land Trust v Director of Fisheries (NT) (2000) 170 ALR 1 cited Haruo Kitakoka v Commonwealth (unreported, NT Supreme Court, No 14 of 1937) cited Wik Peoples v Queensland (1994) 49 FCR 1 cited SZEEU v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2006) 150 FCR 214 cited Yarmirr v Northern Territory (No 2) (1988) 82 FCR 533 not followed Yanner v Eaton (1999) 201 CLR 351 cited Yarmirr v Northern Territory of Australia [2000] FCA 48 cited Commonwealth v Yarmirr (2001) 208 CLR 1 applied Fejo v Northern Territory (1998) 195 CLR 96 cited Wik Peoples v Queensland (1996) 187 CLR 1 cited Attorney-General v Chambers (1854) 4 De G M & G 206 cited Blundell v Catterall (1821) 5 B & Ald 258 cited Fowley Marine (Emsworth) Ltd v Gafford [1967] 2 QB 808 cited Svendsen v State of Queensland [2002] 1 Qld R 216 cited Cooper v Phibbs (1867) LR 2 HL 149 cited Harper v Minister for Sea Fisheries (1989) 168 CLR 314 cited Re MacTiernan; Ex parte Coogee Coastal Action Coalition Inc (2005) 30 WAR 138 cited Georgeski v Owners Corporation SP49833 (2004) 62 NSWLR 534 cited Potter v Minahan (1908) 7 CLR 277 cited Malika Holdings Pty ltd v Stretton (2001) 204 CLR 290 cited Electrolux Home Products Pty Ltd v Australian Workers' Union (2004) 221 CLR 309 cited R v Janceski (2005) 64 NSWLR 10 cited Coco v The Queen (1994) 179 CLR 427 cited Daniels Corporation v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2002) 213 CLR 543 cited Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth (2003) 211 CLR 476 cited Al Kateb v Godwin (2004) 219 CLR 562 cited R v Secretary of State for Home Department; Ex parte Simms [2002] 2 AC 115 cited CIC Insurance Ltd v Bankstown Football Club Ltd (1997) 187 CLR 384 cited Anderson v Alnwick District Council [1993] 1 WLR 1156 cited O'Neill v Mann (2000) 175 ALR 742 cited Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1997) 189 CLR 520 cited Lipohar v The Queen (1999) 200 CLR 485 cited Kable v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (1996) 189 CLR 51 cited Grant v Henry (1894) 21 R 358 cited Northern Territory v Alyawarr (2005) 145 FCR 442 followed Western Australia v Ward (2002) 213 CLR 1 cited Mabo v Queensland (No 2) (1992) 175 CLR 1 cited Western Australia v The Commonwealth (1995) 183 CLR 373 cited Neowarra v Western Australia [2003] FCA 1402 considered Sampi v Western Australia [2005] FCA 777 considered De Rose v South Australia (No 2) (2005) 145 FCR 290 considered Ward v Western Australia (1998) 159 ALR 483 considered Western Australia v Ward (2000) 99 FCR 316 cited Lardil Peoples v Queensland [2004] FCA 298 considered Gumana v Northern Territory [2005] FCA 1425 cited Gray and Gray, Elements of Land Law, 2.2 ff (4th Ed 2005) Megarry & Wade, The Law of Real Property, 3-041 ff (6th Ed, 2000) Bonyhady. The Law of the Countryside, Ch 8 (1987) Butt, Land Law, Ch 2 (5th Ed, 2006) Perry & Lloyd, Australian Native Title Law (Law Book Co, 2003) GARWIRRIN GUMANA, DJAMBAWA MARAWILI, MARRIRRA MARAWILI, NUWANDJALLI MARAWILI, DAYMAMBI MUNUNGGURR, MANMAN WIRRPANDA AND DHUKAL WIRRPANDA (ON BEHALF OF THE YARRWIDI GUMATJ AND OTHER GROUPS) v NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA, COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, NORTHERN TERRITORY SEAFOOD COUNCIL INC AND ARNHEM LAND ABORIGINAL LAND TRUST NTD 32 OF 2005 ARNHEM LAND ABORIGINAL LAND TRUST , NORTHERN LAND COUNCIL and GARWIRRIN GUMANA, DJAMBAWA MARAWILI, MARRIRRA MARAWILI, NUWANDJALLI MARAWILI, DAYMAMBI MUNUNGGURR, MANMAN WIRRPANDA AND DHUKAL WIRRPANDA (ON BEHALF OF THE YARRWIDI GUMATJI AND OTHER GROUPS v NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA, DIRECTOR OF FISHERIES (NT), NORTHERN TERRITORY SEAFOOD COUNCIL INC and COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Intervenor) NTD 33 OF 2005