James v State of Western Australia [2010] FCAFC 77

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

James v State of Western Australia [2010] FCAFC 77 Citation: James v State of Western Australia [2010] FCAFC 77

Parties: JEFFREY JAMES AND OTHERS ON BEHALF OF THE MARTU PEOPLE v STATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA AND OTHERS

File number: (P)WAD 6110 of 1998

Judges: SUNDBERG, STONE AND BARKER JJ

Date of judgment: 29 June 2010

Corrigendum: 10 August 2010

Catchwords: NATIVE TITLE – mining leases – effect of grant on native title rights and interests – inconsistency of rights – "past acts" – whether apart from Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) mining leases invalid, but would have been valid if native title did not exist – whether invalidity resulted from Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) – compensation payable by mining lessee under State law – relevance to whether leases past acts.

Legislation: Mining Act 1978 (WA) ss 8, 123(2), (4) Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) ss 15(1), 86D(1), 94H, 228 Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) s 10(1) Titles (Validation) Act and Native Title (Effect of Past Acts) Act 1995 (WA) ss 5, 9

Cases cited: Ajinomoto Co Inc v NutraSweet Australia Pty Ltd (2008) 166 FCR 530 cited Allina Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1991) 28 FCR 203 cited Gerhardy v Brown (1985) 159 CLR 70 applied Gowan v Christie (1873) LR 2 Sc&Div 273 cited Interlego AG v Croner Trading Pty Ltd (1992) 39 FCR 348 cited Mabo v Queensland [No 1] (1988) 166 CLR 186 cited Western Australia v Commonwealth (Native Title Act Case) (1995) 183 CLR 373 cited Western Australia v Ward (2002) 213 CLR 1 considered