Minister for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia v Douglas, Malcolm McDonald & Ors Minister for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia v The State of Western Australia & Ors [1996] FCA 395

CATCHWORDS ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - judicial review - natural justice - application to set aside Minister's decision - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 - declaration made under s10 - procedural fairness - whether excluded by statute - nature of interest to be protected - nature of process under Heritage Protection Act - legitimate expectations - whether urgency justifies departure from natural justice - delay of decision-maker's own making - opportunity to respond to further information - whether information new - whether prejudice necessary - credibility of representations - whether Minister considered representations ABORIGINES - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 - sacred sites - Minister's decision to prohibit construction activities - proposed crocodile farm - whether Minister considered representations - confidential information EVIDENCE - Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 - s13 reasons - weight to be given - absence of other evidence - inference to be drawn - application of rule in Jones v Dunkel to judicial review proceedings - failure of Minister to call evidence Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 s9, 10(1), 10(1)(a), 10(1)(c), 10(1)(d), 10(3)(b), 10(4), 10(4)(a), 13, 13(3), Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA) Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 s13 Tickner v Chapman (1995) 57 FCR 451 Cons Tickner v Bropho (1993) 40 FCR 183 Cons Norvill v Chapman (1995) 133 ALR 226 Cons Kioa v West (1985) 159 CLR 550 Cons Annetts v McCann (1990) 170 CLR 596 Refd Baba v Parole Board of New South Wales (1986) 5 NSWLR 338 Refd

Mobil Oil Australia Proprietary Limited v Commissioner of Taxation (1963) 113 CLR 475 Refd Chapman v Tickner (1995) 55 FCR 316 Not Foll South Australia v O'Shea (1987) 163 CLR 378 Cons Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 Refd Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Limited (1986) 162 CLR 24 Refd FAI Insurances Limited v Winneke (1982) 151 CLR 342 Refd Stead v State Government Insurance Commission (1986) 161 CLR 141 Cons Lisafa Holdings Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Police (1988) 15 NSWLR 1 Refd Hot Holdings Pty Ltd v Creasy (1996) 70 ALJR 286 Refd Kentucky Fried Chicken Proprietary Limited v Gantidis (1978) 140 CLR 675 Refd Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Cons Lebanese Moslem Association v the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1986) 67 ALR 195 Refd ARM Constructions Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1986) 10 FCR 197 Refd Citibank Limited v Federal Commissioner of Taxation 88 ATC 4,714 Refd Dahlan v Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (unreported decision of Hill J 12 December 1989)Refd Pattanasri v Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (1994) 34 ALD 169 Refd MINISTER FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER AFFAIRS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA v MALCOLM McDONALD DOUGLAS and VALERIE ANNE DOUGLAS and FRANCIS DJAIGWEEN, FRANK SEBASTIAN, MATHEW GILBERT and JOE BERNARD No WAG 19 of 1995 and MINISTER FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER AFFAIRS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA v THE STATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, MINISTER FOR LANDS OF THE STATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA MINISTER FOR ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS OF THE STATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA and FRANCIS DJAIGWEEN, FRANCIS SEBASTIAN, MATHEW GILBERT AND JOE BERNARD No WAG 18 of 1995 Black CJ, Burchett, Kiefel JJ Melbourne (Heard in Perth) 28 May 1996