Bissett v Minister for Land and Water Conservation for the State of New South Wales [2002] FCA 365

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Bissett v Minister for Land and Water Conservation for the State of New South Wales [2002] FCA 365 NATIVE TITLE – application by representative body to be joined as a party – whether New South Wales Native Title Services has sufficient interests – whether representative body can carry out its functions if it is not a party – whether a determination in the proceedings must be a final determination WORDS AND PHRASES – "interests"

Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) ss 66, 84, 203B, 203BA, 203BB, 203BF, 203BG, 203BJ, 225 Woodridge v Minister for Land and Water Conservation [2001] FCA 419 followed Byron Environment Centre Inc v Arakwal People (1997) 78 FCR 1 applied Munn v State of Queensland [2002] FCA 78 discussed Kooma People v State of Queensland [2002] FCA 86 discussed CAROL DAWN BISSETT, VIOLA LOUISA BROWN AND VERNON JAMES RIDGEWAY (on behalf of the MAAIANGAL CLAN) v MINISTER FOR LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FOR THE STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES & OTHERS N6009 OF 2000 TAMBERLIN J SYDNEY 9 APRIL 2002

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY N6009 OF 2000

BETWEEN: CAROL DAWN BISSETT, VIOLA LOUISA BROWN AND VERNON JAMES RIDGEWAY (on behalf of the MAAIANGAL CLAN)

APPLICANTS

AND: MINISTER FOR LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FOR THE STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES

FIRST RESPONDENT

NEW SOUTH WALES ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL

SECOND RESPONDENT

THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

THIRD RESPONDENT

PORT STEPHENS SHIRE COUNCIL

FOURTH RESPONDENT

WORIMI LOCAL ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL

FIFTH RESPONDENT

DAVID FEENEY

SIXTH RESPONDENT

GWEN RUSSELL

SEVENTH RESPONDENT