Champion v State of Western Australia (No 3) [2014] FCA 280

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Champion v State of Western Australia (No 3) [2014] FCA 280 Citation: Champion v State of Western Australia (No 3) [2014] FCA 280

Parties: BRIAN CHAMPION, GEORGE A CHAMPION, JAMES CHAMPION, CLEM "KINGIE" DONALDSON AND DARREN INDICH ON BEHALF OF THE KALAMAIA KABU(D)N PEOPLE v STATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, CITY OF KALGOORLIE – BOULDER, SHIRE OF MENZIES, LODUR PTY LTD, PORTMAN IRON ORE LIMITED, ACACIA RESOURCES LTD, ARCHAEAN GOLD NL, LACHLAN RESOURCES LTD, PLUTONIC OPERATIONS LIMITED, BHP BILLITON NICKEL WEST PTY LTD, GLENIS DOREEN KNIGHT, PETER JOHN KNIGHT, AILSA ELIZABETH BAYLY, ROBERT THOMAS BAYLY, JOSEPH MICHAEL GUERINI, BURCHILL FRANCIS CECIL JONES, JOHN LOAD CECIL JONES, KEITH CHARLES MADER, MT VETTERS PASTORAL CO (1966) PTY LTD, NOEL DOUGLAS MCKAY, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED, GOLDFIELDS LAND & SEA COUNCIL ABORIGINAL CORPORATION AND NGADJU PEOPLE

File number: WAD 6216 of 1998

Judge: MCKERRACHER J

Date of judgment: 25 March 2014

Catchwords: NATIVE TITLE – dismissal of the application pursuant to s 190F(6) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) on the Court's own motion - application failed registration test on four occasions – inadequate identification of native title claim group and inappropriate authorisation of the claim – deficiencies in application not remedied despite ample opportunity – application dismissed

Legislation: Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) s 190F(6)

Cases cited: Champion v State of Western Australia [2009] FCA 1141 Graham on behalf of the Ngadju People v State of Western Australia [2012] FCA 1455 Risk v National Native Title Tribunal [2000] FCA 1589 State of Western Australia v Graham on behalf of the Ngadju People [2013] FCAFC 143