Margarula, Yvonne v Minister for Resources & Energy & Ors [1998] FCA 48

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

MINES AND MINERALS - mining leases in prescribed substances - Northern Territory - mining lease granted pursuant to Mining Act 1980 (NT) - effect of transition to self-government - whether entitlement to mine, recover and remove prescribed substances could only be granted by the Commonwealth under the Atomic Energy Act 1953 (Cth) - effect of Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth) and Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 (Cth) ss 6, 69, 70 - whether the Mining Act 1980 (NT) was capable of operating concurrently with the Atomic Energy Act 1953 (Cth). Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth), ss 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 23, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47. Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment Act (No 3) 1987 (Cth). Atomic Energy (Control of Materials) Act 1946 (Cth), ss 3, 6, 13A. Atomic Energy (Control of Materials) Act 1952 (Cth). Atomic Energy Act 1953 (Cth), ss 5, 17, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41. Atomic Energy Amendment Act 1978 (Cth), s 9. Atomic Energy Amendment Act (No 2) 1978 (Cth). Constitution, s 122. Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations, reg 11. Environmental Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1976 (Cth), s 11. Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth). Mining Act 1980 (NT), ss 3, 4, 54F, 60, 175. Mining Act (No 4) 1978 (NT), ss 4, 10. Mining Ordinance 1939, ss 3, 7A. Mining Ordinance (No 2) 1953. Northern Territory Acceptance Act 1910 (Cth), s 7. Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910 (Cth), ss 13, 21. Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1947 (Cth). Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 (Cth), ss 6, 7, 8, 9, 32, 35, 57, 69, 70. Northern Territory (Self-Government) Regulations, reg 4. Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s 75. Attorney-General for the Northern Territory v Hand (1989) 25 FCR 345 (FCA/FC), cited. Australian Conservation Foundation v Forestry Commission (1988) 81 ALR 166, cited. Capital Duplicators Pty Ltd v Australian Capital Territory (1992) 177 CLR 248, cited. The Commonwealth v Bogle (1953) 89 CLR 229, cited. The Commonwealth v Newcrest Mining (WA) Ltd (1995) 58 FCR 167 (FCA/FC), cited. The Commonwealth v Tasmania (1983) 158 CLR 1, cited. Cudgeon Rutile (No 2) Pty Ltd v Chalk [1975] AC 220, considered. Minister for Arts, Heritage and Environment v Peko-Wallsend (1987) 15 FCR 274 (FCA/FC), cited. Newcrest Mining (WA) Ltd v The Commonwealth (1997) 71 ALJR 1346, cited. Newcrest Mining (WA) Ltd v The Commonwealth (1993) 46 FCR 342, cited. Northern Land Council v The Commonwealth (1986) 161 CLR 1, cited. Northern Land Council v The Commonwealth (No 2) (1987) 61 ALJR 616, cited. The Queen v Credit Tribunal; Ex parte General Motors Acceptance Corporation (1977) 137 CLR 545, cited. The Queen v Kearney; Ex parte Japanangka (1984) 158 CLR 395, cited. R v Toohey; Ex parte Northern Land Council (1981) 151 CLR 170, cited. Re Residential Tenancies Tribunal of NSW; Ex parte Defence Housing Authority (1997) 71 ALJR 1254, cited. Svikart v Stewart (1994) 181 CLR 548, cited. Wake v Northern Territory (1996) 109 NTR 1 (S Ct NT/FC), cited. Webster v McIntosh (1980) 49 FLR 317 (FCA/FC), cited. Williams v Attorney-General (1913) 16 CLR 404, cited. YVONNE MARGARULA v MINISTER FOR RESOURCES AND ENERGY & ORS NG 448 of 1997 SACKVILLE J SYDNEY 11 FEBRUARY, 1998