Gomeroi People v Attorney-General of New South Wales [2016] FCAFC 75

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Gomeroi People v Attorney-General of New South Wales [2016] FCAFC 75 File numbers: NSD 632 of 2015

Judges: REEVES, BARKER AND BROMBERG JJ

Date of judgment: 30 May 2016

Catchwords: NATIVE TITLE – where resolution of claim group expressed "expectation" that applicant retain current solicitor – where applicant replaced solicitor without claim group resolution – application by former solicitor to be reinstated – application dismissed by primary judge – orders by primary judge convening claim group meeting to consider "expectation" – appeal from orders of primary judge – whether primary judge lacked power to make orders – whether claim group can direct applicant's choice of legal representative

Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) Pt IVA, ss 23, 33ZF, 37M, 37N, 37O, 37P Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) Pt 2 Div 3, Pt 3 Div 1, Preamble, ss 3, 3(c), 13(1), 29(2)(a), 29(2)(b), 29(2)(b)(i), 30, 30A, 31, 61, 61(1), 61(2), 61(2)(c), 61(2)(d), 62, 62(1)(a)(iv), 62(1)(a)(v), 62A, 63, 66(1), 66B, 66B(1), 66B(1)(a)(iii), 66B(1)(a)(iv), 66B(1)(b), 66B(2), 81, 84C, 84D, 203BB, 203BF, 203BK, 213(2), 251B, 251B(a), 251B(b), 253 Native Title Amendment Act 1998 (Cth) Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) rr 1.32 and 4.04(1) Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW)

Cases cited: Ankamuthi People v State of Queensland (2002) 121 FCR 68 Ashby v Slipper [2014] FCAFC 15 Augustine v State of Western Australia [2013] FCA 338 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Lenah Game Meats Pty Limited (2001) 208 CLR 199; [2001] HCA 63 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Richards [2013] FCAFC 89 AWB Limited v Honourable Terence Rhoderic Hudson Cole (No 4) [2006] FCA 1050 Bernard v Gulf Oil Co (1979) 596 F.2d 1249 Blairgowrie Trading Ltd v Allco Finance Group Ltd (recs and mgrs apptd) (in liq) (2015) 325 ALR 539 Bropho v Western Australia (2000) 96 FCR 453 Cardile v LED Builders Pty Limited (1999) 198 CLR 380 Carnie v Esanda Finance Corporation Limited (1995) 182 CLR 398 Clyne v New South Wales Bar Association (1960) 104 CLR 186 Commonwealth v Clifton (2007) 164 FCR 355; [2007] FCAFC 190 Doctor on behalf of the Bigambul People v State of Queensland (No 2) [2013] FCA 746 Electric Light and Power Supply Corporation Limited v Electricity Commission of New South Wales (1956) 94 CLR 554 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Limited v Ryan (2002) 211 CLR 540 In re Gypsum Antitrust Cases (1977) 565 F.2d 1123 Ismail-Zai v Western Australia (2007) 34 WAR 379 Jackson v Sterling Industries Limited (1987) 162 CLR 612 Jones v Treasury Wine Estates Limited [2016] FCAFC 59 Kallinicos v Hunt (2005) 64 NSWLR 561 Kelly v Willmott Forests Ltd (in liq) (No 4) [2016] FCA 323 Kirby v Centro Properties Ltd (2009) 253 ALR 65 Lardil Peoples v Queensland [2001] FCA 414; (2001) 108 FCR 453 Levinge v Queensland (2012) 208 FCR 98 Liebman v J.W. Petersen Coal & Oil Co (1974) 63 FRD 684 Newman v Phillips Fox (1999) 21 WAR 309 Patrick Stevedores Operations No 2 Proprietary Limited and Others v Maritime Union of Australia and Others (1998) 195 CLR 1; [1998] HCA 30 Remington Products Australia Pty Ltd v Energizer Australia Pty Ltd (2008) 246 ALR 113 Roe on behalf of the Goolarabooloo and Jabirr Jabirr Peoples v State of Western Australia [2011] FCA 421 Roe v Kimberley Land Council Aboriginal Corporation [2010] FCA 809 Runion v U.S. Shelter (1983) 98 FRD 313 State of New South Wales v Public Transport Ticketing Corporation (No 3) (2011) 81 NSWLR 394; [2011] NSWCA 200 Straits Exploration (Australia) Pty Ltd v Kokatha Uwankara Native Title Claimants [2012] SASCFC 121 Tigan v Western Australia (2010) 188 FCR 533 Weribone v Queensland (No 2) (2013) 217 FCR 189 A Conte & H Newberg, Newberg on Class Actions (4th ed., 2002) Federal Judicial Center, Manual for Complex Litigation (3rd ed., 1995)