Forrest on behalf of the Nangaanya-ku Native Title Claim Group (Part B) v State of Western Australia (No 2) [2024] FCA 729

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Forrest on behalf of the Nangaanya-ku Native Title Claim Group (Part B) v State of Western Australia (No 2) [2024] FCA 729 File number: WAD 460 of 2018

Judgment of: JACKSON J

Date of judgment: 8 July 2024

Catchwords: NATIVE TITLE - separate question - future act - validity of mining lease to the extent that it affects native title - whether right to negotiate disapplied under s 26D(1) of Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) - whether mining lease was a renewal, re-making or re-grant of earlier mining leases for purposes of s 26D(1)(a) - whether lease extended the area covered by earlier mining leases for purposes of s 26D(1)(c) - Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 23(b) and whether words in the singular number include the plural - whether Native Title Act evinces intention contrary to s 23(b) - no such intention discerned - separate question answered in the affirmative

Legislation: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) ss 2, 23 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 191 Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) ss 3, 24AA-24OA, 25-26A, 26D, 28, 29, 31, 42A, 140, 226, 227, 233, 245, 253 Native Title Amendment Act 1998 (Cth) Mining Act 1978 (WA) ss 8, 71

Cases cited: ADCO Constructions Pty Ltd v Goudappel [2014] HCA 18; (2014) 254 CLR 1 Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue [2009] HCA 41; (2009) 239 CLR 27 Attorney-General (Qld) v Australian Industrial Relations Commission [2002] HCA 42; (2002) 213 CLR 485 Australian Education Union v Department of Education and Children's Services [2012] HCA 3; (2012) 248 CLR 1 Australian Institute for Progress Ltd v Electoral Commission of Queensland [2020] QSC 54; (2020) 4 QR 31 Australian Rail Track Corp Ltd v Dollisson [2020] NSWCA 58 Blue Metal Industries Ltd v Dilley (1969) 117 CLR 651 Certain Lloyd's Underwriters Subscribing to Contract No IH00AAQS v Cross [2012] HCA 56; (2012) 248 CLR 378 Charles v Sheffield Resources Limited [2017] FCAFC 218; (2017) 257 FCR 29 CIC Insurance Ltd v Bankstown Football Club Ltd (1997) 187 CLR 384 Commissioner for Railways (NSW) v Agalianos (1955) 92 CLR 390 Commissioner of Patents v Ono Pharmaceutical Co Ltd [2022] FCAFC 39; (2022) 291 FCR 1 Commissioner of State Revenue v The Muir Electrical Co Pty Ltd [2003] VSCA 112; (2003) 8 VR 200 Commissioner of Taxation v Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd [2012] HCA 55; (2012) 250 CLR 503 Cooper Brookes (Wollongong) Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1981) 147 CLR 297 Esso Australia Pty Ltd v Australian Workers' Union [2017] HCA 54; (2017) 263 CLR 551 Fejo (on behalf of Larrakia People) v Northern Territory (1998) 195 CLR 96 Harris v Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority [2000] FCA 603; (2000) 98 FCR 60 Harvey v Minister for Primary Industry and Resources [2024] HCA 1 Hurstville City Council v Hutchison 3G Australia Pty Ltd [2003] NSWCA 179 Mabo v Queensland (No 2) (1992) 175 CLR 1 Mitsui & Co (Australia) Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [2012] FCAFC 109; (2012) 205 FCR 523 Narrier v State of Western Australia [2016] FCA 1519 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2016] HCA 50; (2016) 260 CLR 232 O'Sullivan v Farrer (1989) 168 CLR 210 Port of Newcastle Operations Pty Limited v Glencore Coal Assets Australia Pty Ltd [2021] HCA 39; (2021) 274 CLR 565 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355 SZTAL v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2017] HCA 34; (2017) 262 CLR 362 Tjungarrayi v Western Australia [2019] HCA 12; (2019) 269 CLR 150 Trade Practices Commission v Tooth & Co Ltd (1979) 142 CLR 397 Wik Peoples v State of Queensland (1996) 187 CLR 1 Yanunijarra Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC v State of Western Australia [2020] FCAFC 64; (2020) 276 FCR 53