Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Land Management Act 2016 [2022] NSWLEC 126

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Land Management Act 2016 [2022] NSWLEC 126 Hearing dates: 27, 28 and 30 July, 20 August (further written submissions) 2021 Date of orders: 19 October 2022 Decision date: 19 October 2022 Jurisdiction: Class 3 Before: Pepper J Decision: Appeal dismissed. Catchwords: ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS: whether resumed land vested in Her Majesty as at the date of the claims – whether Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 vested the land in the Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services – whether land able to be sold and leased as at the date of the claims – whether land was lawfully used or occupied as at the date of the claims – whether the land was needed or likely to be needed as at the date of the claims. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION: whether the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 impliedly repealed the Real Property Act 1900 to the extent of any inconsistency – doctrine of implied repeal – whether the Acts can be construed harmoniously – proper scope and operation of s 42(3) of the Real Property Act 1900. Legislation Cited: Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, s 36 Community Welfare Act 1987, ss 3, 13A Conveyancing Act 1919, s 196A(3) Crown Land Management Act 2016, ss 1.7(a), 1.15, 2.3, 2.8, 4.4, 5.3 Crown Lands Act 1989, ss 3, 6, 7, 34, 80, 87, 138(1) Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913, s 24 Interpretation Act 1987, s 30(1) Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991, ss 19(1), 20, 33, 37 Real Property Act 1900, ss 3(1), 31A, 36(6A), 40, 41, 42 Real Property and Conveyancing Legislation Amendment Act 2009 Cases Cited: ADCO Constructions Pty Ltd v Goudappel (2014) 254 CLR 1; [2014] HCA 18 Ashfield Municipal Council v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales (2001) 117 LGERA 203; [2001] NSWCA 370 Australian Education Union v General Manager of Fair Work Australia (2012) 246 CLR 117; [2012] HCA 19 Batemans Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2007] NSWLEC 800 Birrigan Gargle Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering Crown Lands Act (1999) 102 LGERA 33; [1999] NSWLEC 12 Breskvar v Wall (1971) 126 CLR 376; [1971] HCA 70 Calabro v Bayside City Council [1999] 3 VR 688 Carr v Finance Corporation of Australia Limited [No 2] (1982) 150 CLR 139; [1982] HCA 43 Chang v Laidley Shire Council (2007) 234 CLR 1; [2007] HCA 37 City of Canada Bay Council v F & D Bonaccorso Pty Ltd (2007) 71 NSWLR 424; [2007] NSWCA 351 Commissioner of Police for New South Wales v Eaton (2013) 252 CLR 1; [2013] HCA 2 Council of the City of Newcastle v Royal Newcastle Hospital (1957) 96 CLR 493; [1957] HCA 15 Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (2066) 149 LGERA 162; [2006] NSWLEC 180 Daruk Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (1993) 30 NSWLR 140 Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (2012) 211 LGERA 100; [2012] NSWLEC 68 Deguisa v Lynn (2020) 268 CLR 638; [2020] HCA 39 Ferdinands v Commissioner for Public Employment (2006) 225 CLR 130; [2006] HCA 5 Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [1996] NSWLEC 223 Jacobs v OneSteel Manufacturing Pty Ltd (2006) 93 SASR 586; [2006] SASC 32 La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (1991) 74 LGRA 176 La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (No 2) (2016) 220 LGERA 1; [2016] NSWLEC 137 Maxwell v Murphy (1957) 96 CLR 261; [1957] HCA 7 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council (1998) 43 NSWLR 249 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council (No 2) (2001) 50 NSWLR 665; [2001] NSWCA 28 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council (2009) 168 LGERA 71; [2009] NSWCA 289 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council (2012) 193 LGERA 276; [2012] NSWCA 359 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council [No 2] (1997) 42 NSWLR 641 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v NSW Aboriginal Land Council (2008) 237 CLR 285; [2008] HCA 48 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council (2009) 166 LGERA 379; [2009] NSWCA 138 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs v Nystrom (2006) 228 CLR 566; [2006] HCA 50 Minister for Natural Resources v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (1987) 9 NSWLR 154 Mogo Local Aboriginal Land Council v Eurobodalla Shire Council (2002) 54 NSWLR 15; [2002] NSWCA 12 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (Boggabri) (2014) 202 LGERA 273; [2014] NSWLEC 58 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (2015) 215 LGERA 103; [2015] NSWCA 349 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (1992) 76 LGRA 192 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (Newcastle Post Office Claim) (2014) 204 LGERA 1; [2014] NSWLEC 72 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (1992) 78 LGERA 1 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (2016) 260 CLR 232; [2016] HCA 50 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands (Consolidation) Act and the Western Lands Act (1988) 14 NSWLR 685 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering Crown Lands Act (2014) 204 LGERA 205; [2014] NSWLEC 144 NSW Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2008] NSWLEC 35 Orb Holdings Pty Ltd v WCL (Qld) Albert St Pty Ltd (2020) 5 QR 521; [2020] QCA 198 Pratten v Warringah Shire Council (1969) 17 LGRA 371 Re Maritime Union of Australia; Ex parte CSL Pacific Shipping Inc (2003) 214 CLR 397; [2003] HCA 43 Shergold v Tanner (2002) 209 CLR 126; [2002] HCA 19 The South-Eastern Drainage Board (South Australia) v Savings Bank of South Australia (1939) 62 CLR 603; [1932] HCA 40 Western Australian Planning Commission v Temwood Holdings Pty Limited (2004) 221 CLR 30; [2004] HCA 63 Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (1991) 72 LGRA 149 Texts Cited: New South Wales Legislative Council, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 6 May 2009 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council (Applicant) Minister Administering the Crown Land Management Act (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: S Pritchard SC (Applicant) C Lenehan SC with E Jones (Respondent)