Griffiths v Northern Territory of Australia [2007] FCAFC 178

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Griffiths v Northern Territory of Australia [2006] FCAFC 178

NATIVE TITLE – native title rights and interests – exclusivity – criteria for exclusivity – classification of rights as usufructuary or proprietary – potential to cause error in determining content of native title rights and interests – exclusivity finding may be based upon protective function with respect to land and visitors to land – whether negatived by general practice of granting permission to enter – traditional law and custom – continuity of observance and acknowledgment – whether change from patrilineal to cognatic descent negatives continuity – extinguishment – disregard of extinguishment – proclaimed town site – effect of s 47B of Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) PROPERTY – usufructuary right – nature of – application to native title rights and interests WORDS AND PHRASES - usufructuary

Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth) Crown Lands Act 1992 (NT) s 108, s 95, s 3 Crown Lands Ordinance 1931-1972 (Cth) Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) s 47B, s 223, s 225 Amodu Tijani v Secretary, Southern Nigeria [1921] 2 AC 399 cited Commonwealth v Yarmirr (2001) 208 CLR 1 cited Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118 cited Hayes v Northern Territory (1999) 97 FCR 32 cited Mabo v Queensland (No 2) (1992) 175 CLR 1 cited Mason v Tritton (1993) 6 BPR 13,639 cited Mason v Tritton (1994) 34 NSWLR 572 cited Members of the Yorta Yorta Aboriginal Community v State of Victoria (2002) 214 CLR 422 cited Northern Territory v Alyawarr, Kaytetye, Warumungu, Wakaya Native Title Claim Group (2005) 145 FCR 442 cited Risk v Northern Territory of Australia [2006] FCA 404 cited The Administration of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea v Daera Guba (1973) 130 CLR 353 cited Transurban City Link v Allan (1999) 95 FCR 553 cited Wik Peoples v State of Queensland (1996) 187 CLR 1 cited