Risk v Northern Territory of Australia [2000] FCA 1779

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Risk v Northern Territory of Australia [2000] FCA 1779

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDERS – land rights – traditional land claim under Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth) – claim covering seabed under bays and gulfs within the limits of the Northern Territory – whether seabed amenable to claim – whether the term "land" in s 50 of the Land Rights Act extends to the seabed – ordinary and ordinary legal meaning of "land" – whether includes seabed – operation of Acts Interpretation Act. Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 s 50, s 73 Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) s 5 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 39B Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 22(1)(c) The Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973 (Cth) s 7 Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1989 (NT) Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355 cited K & S Lake City Freighters Pty Ltd v Gordon & Gotch Ltd (1985) 157 CLR 309 cited Milirrpum v Nabalco Pty Ltd (1971) 17 FLR 141 referred to Hampton Urban Council v Southwark & Vauxhall Water Company [1900] AC 3 cited Goldsworthy Mining Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1973) 128 CLR 199 discussed, cited Goldsworthy Mining Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1975) 132 CLR 463 referred to Dampier Mining Co Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1981) 147 CLR 408 discussed Jennings Construction Ltd v Burgundy Royale Investments Pty Ltd [No 2] (1987) 162 CLR 153 followed New South Wales v The Commonwealth (1975) 135 CLR 337 cited Rogers v Squire (1978) 23 ALR 111 referred to Yarmirr v Northern Territory (No 2) (1998) 82 FCR 533 referred to Commonwealth v Yarmirr (1999) 168 ALR 426 referred to R v Toohey; Ex parte Meneling Station Pty Ltd (1982) 158 CLR 327 cited R v Toohey; Ex parte Attorney-General for the Northern Territory (1980) 145 CLR 374 cited R v Kearney; Ex parte Northern Land Council (1984) 158 CLR 365 cited Arnhemland Aboriginal Land Trust v Director of Fisheries (NT) (2000) 170 ALR 1 cited Attorney-General v Prince Ernest Augustus of Hanover [1957] AC 436 cited Attorney-General of British Colombia v Attorney-General of Canada [1914] AC 153 cited Lansen v Olney (1999) 169 ALR 49 cited Argyll & Bute DC v Secretary of State for Scotland (1976) SC 248 cited Re Rivtow Industries v Assessment Commissioner of British Columbia (1986) 24 DLR (4th) 475 cited WILLIAM MAXWELL RISK V NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA & THE HON JUSTICE HW OLNEY ACTING AS ABORIGINAL LAND COMMISSIONER D19 OF 1999 FRENCH, KIEFEL AND MERKEL JJ 8 DECEMBER 2000 BRISBANE