Fritz v Torres Strait Regional Authority [1999] FCA 183

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Fritz v Torres Strait Regional Authority [1999] FCA 183 REAL PROPERTY - estate or interest in land - claim to Deliverance and Kerr Islands in Arafura Sea - whether islands annexed to Queensland - whether applicant has a common law right to enjoy rights in relation to the islands. DISCRIMINATION LAW - racial discrimination - whether s 223 Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) operates in a discriminatory way and is inconsistent with the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). PROCEDURE - whether respondents are proper contradictors to applicant's claim - whether claim for damages has reasonable prospect of success and/or is embarrassing - strike out application - whether serious question to be tried. The Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) s 223 Colonial Boundaries Act 1895 (Imp) s 1 Queensland Coast Islands Act 1879 (Qld) s 1 Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth)

R v Gomez (1880) 5 QSCR 189 applied Wacando v The Commonwealth (1981) 148 CLR 1 applied Hollier v Registrar of the National Native Title Tribunal and Ors (1998) 82 FCR 186 applied Western Australia v The Commonwealth (Native Title Act Case) (1995) 183 CLR 373 cited In Re Judiciary and Navigation Acts (1921) 29 CLR 257 applied Luna Park Ltd v The Commonwealth (1923) 32 CLR 596 cited Re Bonner (Deceased) [1963] QdR 488 cited Fancourt v Mercantile Credits Ltd (1983) 154 CLR 87 referred to Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners (1949) 78 CLR 62 applied General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125 applied

DENNIS MELVIN FRITZ v THE TORRES STRAIT REGIONAL AUTHORITY, MR EDWARD DAU ON BEHALF OF THE BOIGU ISLAND PEOPLE, MR RAYMOND SAGIGI AND OTHERS ON THEIR OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF BADU ISLAND AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES QUEENSLAND

COOPER J

BRISBANE

5 MARCH 1999