Anderson v Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation [2024] NSWCA 9

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Anderson v Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation [2024] NSWCA 9 Hearing dates: 24 July 2023 Date of orders: 7 February 2024 Decision date: 07 February 2024 Before: Kirk JA at [1]; Stern JA at [115]; Simpson AJA at [116] Decision: (1) Appeal and cross-appeal dismissed. (2) The appellants are to pay the respondent's costs of the proceedings in this Court. Catchwords: LAND LAW – Indigenous land rights – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 (Cth) – Conditional grant of land pursuant to statutory functions – Validity of conditions upon grant of land – Challenge to the validity of transfer of land by persons not party to the transfer LAND LAW – Indigenous land rights – Claims for general equitable Indigenous title separate to native title LAND LAW – Adverse possession – Consent of documentary owner CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – Commonwealth Constitution – Race – Scope of legislative power under s 51(xxvi) – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples as distinct "people of any race" Legislation Cited: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 (Cth), ss 4, 191T(2) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989 (Cth), ss 3, 191B, 191C, 191D, 191E, 191G, 191H, 191S, 191SA, Pt 4A Commonwealth Constitution, s 51(xxvi) Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2, ss 20, 21 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Crown Lands Act 1884 (NSW) Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 (NSW) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), s 78B Land Fund and Indigenous Land Corporation (ATSIC Amendment) Act 1995 (Cth) Land Title Act 1994 (Qld) Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), s 27(2) Limitations of Actions Act 1974 (Qld), s 13 Native Title Act 1995 (Cth), s 223 Real Property Act 1900 (NSW), s 45D Western Lands Act 1901 (NSW) Cases Cited: Attorney-General (NSW) v Brown (1847) 1 Legge 312 Commonwealth v Tasmania (1983) 158 CLR 1; [1983] HCA 21 Cram Foundation v Corbett-Jones [2006] NSWSC 495 Hardy v Sidoti [2020] NSWSC 1057 Houssein v Under Secretary of Industrial Relations & Technology (NSW) (1982) 148 CLR 88; [1982] HCA 2 Knox on behalf of the Yuwaalaraay/Euahlayi People v State of Queensland [2021] FCA 1440 Love v Commonwealth (2020) 270 CLR 152; [2020] HCA 3 Mabo v Queensland (No 2) (1992) 175 CLR 1; [1992] HCA 23 R v Bonjon (Supreme Court of New South Wales, 16 September 1841) Sidoti v Hardy [2021] NSWCA 105 Western Australia v Commonwealth (1995) 183 CLR 373; [1995] HCA 47 Yorta Yorta Aboriginal Community v Victoria (2002) 214 CLR 422; [2002] HCA 58 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Michael Anderson (First Appellant) Jutta Sapotnick-Eckford (Second Appellant) Indigenous Land and Sea Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: