Neowarra v State of Western Australia [2003] FCA 1402

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Neowarra v State of Western Australia [2003] FCA 1402

NATIVE TITLE – Application for determination – Applicants associated with particular dambun or estate areas ‑ Members of three language groups – Whether entitled to join in one claim – Whether claim should be dambun or language area based – Characteristics of native title – Whether amounts to possession, occupation, use and enjoyment as against whole world – Extinguishment – Effect on native title of other interests – Interests include pastoral leases, special leases, reserves, public works – Whether extinguishment required to be disregarded

Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) ss 11, 13, 14‑22H, 23B, 23C, 23D, 23DA, 23E, 23F, 23G, 23H, 23HA, 23I, 24OA, 28, 44H, 47, 47A, 47B, 61-62, 81, 211-213, 223, 225, 226, 227, 228‑232E, 237A, 238, 239, 242, 245, 246, 248, 248A, 248B, 249C, 251D, 253 Titles Validation and Native Title (Effect of Past Acts) Act 1995 (WA) ss 5,6, 7, 8, 9, 12A‑12E, 12I, 12J, 12M, 14 Mining Act 1904(WA) ss 26, 42-47, 79, 115, 117, 276 Mining Act 1978 (WA) ss 79, 85, 87, 91-94B Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947 (WA) ss 8‑9, 11, 105, Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 (WA) ss 4, s 26B, 39, 41 Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (WA) s 23 Land Act 1933 (WA) ss 7, 13, 29-30, 33, 90-91, 101A, 102-103, 105-107, 116, 140 Land Act 1898 (WA) ss 4, 13, 39-40, 46, 91-98, 100-102, 106, Sch 24 Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972 (WA) ss 20, 23 Petroleum Act 1967 (WA) s 9 Parks and Reserves Act 1895 (WA) ss 3‑4, 8 Fauna Conservation Act 1950 (WA) ss 14, 16, 22, 23 Telecommunications Act 1975 (Cth) s 16 Australian Telecommunications Corporation Act 1989 (Cth) s 88 Telecommunications Act 1991 (Cth) s 129 Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth) Sch 3, cl 5‑7 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989 (Cth) ss 14, 191B, 191E Aboriginal Development Commission Act 1980 (Cth) ss 8, 27 Fisheries Act 1905 (WA) ss 3, 39C Land Regulations 1878 regs 2‑4, 8, 12, 59‑61, 71, 73, Sch 10 Land Regulations for the Kimberley District 1880 regs 9, 12 Land Regulations 1882 regs 3, 7, 8, 29‑30, 61, 70, 73‑74, 79-81, 83, 85, Sch 11 Land Regulations 1887 regs 3, 5, 32-33, 38, 57, 61, 71, 73-74, 105, Sch 9 Mining Regulations made pursuant to Mining Act 1904(WA) regs 84, 87 Mining Regulations 1981 (WA) regs 37‑42B By‑laws made pursuant to Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947 (WA) by laws 31, 34‑36, 38‑40 By‑laws made pursuant to Parks and Reserves Act 1895 by‑laws 13, 15‑17, 24, 26, 35‑36 Fisheries Regulations 1938 (WA) reg‑3 Mabo v Queensland (No 2) (1992) 175 CLR 1 cited Western Australia v Ward (2002) 191 ALR 1 applied Yorta Yorta v Victoria (2002) 194 ALR 538 applied Ward v Western Australia (1998) 159 ALR 483 cited Western Australia v Ward (2000) 99 FCR 316 applied Commonwealth v Yarmirr (2001) 184 ALR 113 applied De Rose v South Australia [2002] FCA 1342 distinguished Commonwealth v Yarmirr (2000) 101 FCR 171 cited Hayes v Northern Territory (1999) 97 FCR 32 considered Yarmirr v Northern Territory (No 2) (1998) 82 FCR 533 distinguished Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355 applied Montreal Street Railway Co v Normandin [1917] AC 170 considered Clayton v Heffron (1960) 105 CLR 214 considered Attorney‑General (NSW); Ex rel Franklins Stores Pty Ltd v Lizelle Pty Ltd [1977] 2 NSWLR 955 considered Yates Security Services v Keating (1990) 98 ALR 68 cited Minister for Natural Resources v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (1987) 9 NSWLR 154 cited Western Stores Ltd v Orange City Council [1971] 2 NSWLR 36 cited City Mutual Life Assurance Society v Elliott (1897) 18 LR (NSW) 391 distinguished Wandarang People v Northern Territory (2000) 104 FCR 380 cited Erubam Le (Darnley Islanders) v Queensland [2003] FCAFC 227 cited Rubibi Community v Western Australia (2001) 112 FCR 409 cited Passi v Queensland [2001] FCA 697 cited Daniel v Western Australia [2003] FCA 666 considered Shanmugam v Commissioner for Registration of Indian and Pakistani Residents [1962] AC 515 considered Walton v Bank of Nova Scotia [1964] 1 OR 673 cited Wentworth v New South Wales Bar Association (1992) 176 CLR 239 cited PADDY NEOWARRA, PADDY WAMA & OTHERS v THE STATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA & OTHERS