Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Land Management Act 2016 [2022] NSWCA 275

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Land Management Act 2016 [2022] NSWCA 275 Hearing dates: 25 November 2022 Date of orders: 19 December 2022 Decision date: 19 December 2022 Before: Gleeson JA at [1]; Basten AJA at [2]; Preston CJ of LEC at [15]. Decision: (1) The appeal is upheld. (2) Order 1 in proceeding No 2020/296485 (Gosford No 1) made by Pain J on 16 August 2022 and entered on 15 November 2022 and Orders 1 and 2 in proceedings No 2021/190274 (Gosford No 2) made by Pain J on 16 August 2022 and entered on 10 November 2022 are set aside. (3) The Minister administering the Crown Land Management Act 2016 is ordered to transfer to Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council Lots 7 and 8 of Section 96 in DP 758466, known as 143 Henry Parry Drive, Gosford, within 90 days of the date of this Order. (4) The respondent is to pay the costs of the appellant of the proceedings in this Court and in the Land and Environment Court. Catchwords: ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS – claim to Crown land – whether land needed for an essential public purpose – land needed if actual decision of government – government decision around 40 years before land claim – misdirection to accept that decision without other evidence as proof of need at claim date – finding of need not reasonably open on evidence – finding of likely need not reasonably open on evidence Legislation Cited: Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW), s 36 Crown Lands Act 1989 (NSW), ss 6, 92, 96A, 122, 125, Sch 8, Pt 5 Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 (NSW), s 37T Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW), s 57 Cases Cited: 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 Crown Lands Act v Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council (2009) 168 LGERA 71; [2009] NSWCA 289 Minister Administering Crown Lands Act v NSW Aboriginal Land Council (2009) 171 LGERA 56; [2009] NSWCA 352 Minister Administering Crown Lands Act v Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council (2009) 166 LGERA 379; [2009] NSWCA 138 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council (Appellant) Minister Administering the Crown Land Management Act 2016 (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr P Herzfeld SC and Mr O Jones (Appellant) Mr J Emmett SC (Respondent)