Stevens v Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC [2016] FCA 149

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Stevens v Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC [2016] FCA 149 File number: WAD 374 of 2015

Judge: BARKER J

Date of judgment: 26 February 2016

Catchwords: CORPORATIONS – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation – expulsion of members by special resolution – application to reinstate members – whether corporation rules can provide additional grounds for expulsion of members – whether process of expulsion procedurally fair – whether process of expulsion oppressive to members for the purposes of s 166-1 of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth)

Legislation: Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth) s 60-1, s 60-5, s 66-1(3A), s 85-1(4), s 144-10, s 150-15(1), s 150-20, s 150-25, s 150-30, s 150-35, s 150-35(3), s 166-1, s 166-5, s 166-10(b), s 169-1, s 169-5, s 201-40, s 201-40(4), s 201-45(1), s 700-1, Subdiv 150-C Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 53, s 232 Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) s 55, s 56, s 56(2), s 56(2)(a), s 56(7), s 57, s 57(2), s 203BC(2), s 253, Pt 2 Div 6 Native Title (Prescribed Bodies Corporate) Regulations 1999 (Cth) reg 4(2)(c), reg 6, reg 8

Cases cited: Hughes (on behalf of the Eastern Guruma People) v State of Western Australia [2007] FCA 365 Hughes on behalf of the Eastern Guruma People (No 2) v State of Western Australia [2012] FCA 1267 John Richard Bryant v Hawkesbury Radio Communication Co-operative Society Limited [2014] NSWSC 848 Kioa and Others v West and Another (1985) 159 CLR 550; [1985] HCA 81 Morgan v 45 Flers Avenue Pty Ltd (1986) 10 ACLR 692