Moriarty v Nye [2024] NSWCCA 116

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Moriarty v Nye [2024] NSWCCA 116 Hearing dates: 26-27 March 2024 Date of orders: 8 July 2024 Decision date: 08 July 2024 Before: Kirk JA; Wilson J; Yehia J Decision: Answer the questions stated as follows: Questions 1-3: Section 211(2)(a) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (NT Act) refers to needs of the person in question, their household or their community which are capable of being satisfied directly by undertaking the activities in question, being needs of sustenance or consumption. It does not extend to indirect satisfaction of broader needs by using the product of the activities for sale or trade outside the household or community. It is otherwise unnecessary and inappropriate to answer the questions. Question 4: The activity of receiving fish taken from the sea by others and assembling that fish for the purpose of sale to people outside the relevant native title community is not capable of constituting "fishing", "gathering" or "a cultural or spiritual activity" within the meaning of s 211(3) of the NT Act. Question 5: When a party seeks to rely on s 211 of the NT Act in litigation against them, the legal burden of proof falls on the other party to negative the application of the provision, doing so on the standard of proof that otherwise applies to that party in making out their claim. It is otherwise unnecessary and inappropriate to answer the question. Catchwords: LAND LAW – Indigenous land rights – Indigenous person charged under State law with possessing abalone without licence or permit – Section 211 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) – Immunity from application of restrictive laws requiring licence or permit – Meaning of carrying on activity for the purpose of satisfying personal, domestic or non-commercial communal needs – Meaning of fishing, gathering or a cultural or spiritual activity EVIDENCE – Burden of proof – Criminal proceedings – Burden and standard of proof of a defendant who invokes s 211 – Statutory exception to general rule – Legislative intent for immunity to be capable of practical and ready exercise by native title holders – Legal burden on person seeking to make out claim against native title holder JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS – Court of Appeal – Decision of intermediate appellate court of another State interpreting Commonwealth legislation – Principles as to departing from such a decision – Whether previous decision of South Australian Court of Appeal plainly wrong Legislation Cited: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth), ss 13(1), 15AB(2)(h) Commonwealth Constitution, s 109 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5B Criminal Procedure Act 1921 (SA), s 56 Fisheries Management Act 1994 (NSW), ss 18(2), 18(2A), 18(2B), 21B, 287, Schs 1B, 1C Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), ss 68, 79, 80 Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), Preamble, ss 3, 8A(1), 13, 61, 82(3), 84(5), 84(5A), 84(9), 86G(1), 171, 172, 174, 203DG, 211, 223, 224, 225 Native Title Amendment Act 1998 (Cth) Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) Criminal Code (Cth), Pt 2.6 Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019 (NSW), Sch 1 Native Title Bill 1993 Cases Cited: AB v Western Australia [2011] HCA 42; (2011) 244 CLR 390 Akiba v Commonwealth [2013] HCA 33; (2013) 250 CLR 209 Akiba v Queensland (No 2) [2010] FCA 643; (2010) 204 FCR 1 Attorney-General (Cth) v Huynh [2023] HCA 13; (2023) 97 ALJR 298 Australian Securities Commission v Marlborough Gold Mines Ltd [1993] HCA 15; (1993) 177 CLR 485 Bankinvest AG v Seabrook (1988) 14 NSWLR 711 Carriage v NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment [2022] NSWDC 283; (2022) 39 DCLR(NSW) 66 Chugg v Pacific Dunlop Ltd [1990] HCA 41; (1990) 170 CLR 249 Commissioner of Police (NSW) v Cottle [2022] HCA 7; (2022) 276 CLR 62 Commonwealth v Akiba [2012] FCAFC 25; (2012) 204 FCR 260 Competition and Consumer Commission v Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd (2007) 232 CLR 1; [2007] HCA 38 Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union v Mammoet Australia Pty Ltd [2013] HCA 36; (2013) 248 CLR 619 Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Personnel Contracting Pty Ltd [2020] FCAFC 122; (2020) 279 FCR 631 David William Pallas & Julie Ann Pallas as trustees for the Pallas Family Superannuation Fund v Lendlease Corporation Ltd [2024] NSWCA 83 Derschaw v Sutton (1996) 17 WAR 419 Dietman v Karpany [2023] SASCA 52; (2023) 377 FLR 307 Dillon v Davies (1998) 8 Tas R 229 Director of Public Prosecutions v United Telecasters Sydney Ltd [1990] HCA 5; (1990) 168 CLR 594 Dudley v Department of Primary Industries and Regions (SA) [2018] SASCFC 23; (2018) 231 LGERA 13 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd [2007] HCA 22; (2007) 230 CLR 89 Gett v Tabet [2009] NSWCA 76; (2009) 109 NSWLR 1 Green v The Queen [2011] HCA 49; (2011) 244 CLR 462 Harper v Minister for Sea Fisheries [1989] HCA 47; (1989) 168 CLR 314 Hill v Zuda Pty Ltd [2022] HCA 21; (2022) 275 CLR 24 ICM Agriculture Pty Ltd v Commonwealth [2009] HCA 51; (2009) 240 CLR 140 John v Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) [1989] HCA 5; (1989) 166 CLR 417 Karpany v Dietman [2013] HCA 47; (2013) 252 CLR 507 Mabo v Queensland (No 2) [1992] HCA 23; (1992) 175 CLR 1 Mason v Tritton (1994) 34 NSWLR 572 Masson v Parsons [2019] HCA 21; (2019) 266 CLR 554 Members of the Yorta Yorta Aboriginal Community v Victoria [2002] HCA 58; (2002) 214 CLR 422 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZVFW [2018] HCA 30; (2018) 264 CLR 541 Minister for Primary Industries and Energy v Austral Fisheries Pty Ltd (1993) 40 FCR 381 Momcilovic v The Queen [2011] HCA 34; (2011) 245 CLR 1 Mulholland v Australian Electoral Commission [2004] HCA 41; (2004) 220 CLR 181 Plaintiff S10/2011 v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2012] HCA 31; (2012) 246 CLR 636 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; (1998) 194 CLR 355 R v Director of Public Prosecutions; Ex parte Kebilene [2000] 2 AC 326 R v Edwards [1975] QB 27 Santo v David [2010] FCA 42; (2010) 182 FCR 438 Scott Fell v Lloyd (Official Assignee) [1911] HCA 34; (1911) 13 CLR 230 Taikato v The Queen [1996] HCA 28; (1996) 186 CLR 454 The King v Jacobs Group (Australia) Pty Ltd [2023] HCA 23; (2023) 97 ALJR 595 The Queen v Falzon [2018] HCA 29; (2018) 264 CLR 361 Totaan v R [2022] NSWCCA 75; (2022) 108 NSWLR 17 Vines v Djordjevitch [1955] HCA 19; (1955) 91 CLR 512 Walker Corporation Pty Limited v Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority [2008] HCA 5; (2008) 233 CLR 259 Wanganeen v Dietman [2021] SASCFC 25; (2021) 139 SASR 170 Western Australia v Commonwealth [1995] HCA 47; (1995) 183 CLR 373 Western Australia v Ward [2000] FCA 191; (2000) 99 FCR 316 Wilkes v Johnsen [1999] WASCA 74; (1999) 21 WAR 269 Woolmington v Director of Public Prosecutions [1935] AC 462 Yanner v Eaton [1999] HCA 53; (1999) 201 CLR 351 Texts Cited: Commonwealth Senate, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 21 December 1993 Court of Criminal Appeal – General Practice Note SC CCA 1, para 18(a)(viii) Macquarie Dictionary, online ed, accessed 8 July 2024 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Andrew James Moriarty, Director Fisheries Compliance, Department of Regional NSW (Prosecutor) Keith Ronald Nye (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: JS Emmett SC and AR Sapienza (Prosecutor) N Allan (Respondent)