MINISTER ADMINISTERING THE CROWN LANDS ACT v DEERUBBIN LOCAL ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL (NO 2) [2001] NSWCA 28

Reported Decision : (2001) 50 NSWLR 665 (2001) 113 LGERA 148

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : MINISTER ADMINISTERING THE CROWN LANDS ACT v DEERUBBIN LOCAL ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL (NO 2) [2001] NSWCA 28 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40412/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 22/02/01 JUDGMENT DATE : 22 February 2001

PARTIES : Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council JUDGMENT OF : Spigelman CJ at 1; Powell JA at 81; Heydon JA at 82

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Land & Environment Court LOWER COURT 30059/96 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Bignold J JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : S. Gageler SC / J B Maston (Appellant) J Basten QC (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Crown Solicitor's Office for The State of New South Wales (Appellant) Andrew Chalk Associates (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS - s36(1)(c) Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 - claimable Crown Lands - whether land needed or likely to be needed for an essential public purpose - whether question of law or fact - whether land likely to be needed by executive government for national park - meaning of word 'likely' in this context: 'real or not remote chance or possibility' - whether only one conclusion open on the facts - consideration of facts occurring subsequent to application Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 Crown Lands Act 1989 LEGISLATION CITED : Forestry Act 1916 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 AMP Society v OTC (Aust) (1972) 2 NSWLR 806 Birrigan Gargle Aboriginal Land Council v The Minister Administering Crown Lands Act (1999) 102 LGERA 33 Boughey v The Queen (1986) 161 CLR 10 Deerubin Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering Crown Lands Act (1997) 95 LGERA 353 Hope v Bathurst City Council (1981) 144 CLR 1 Housing Commission of New South Wales v Falconer (1981) 1 NSWLR 547 Jungarray v Olney (1992) 105 ALR 527 La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (1991) 74 LGERA 176 Longworth v Commissioner of Stamp Duties (1953) 53 SR(NSW) 342 CASES CITED: Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v Deerubin Local Aboriginal Land Council (1998) 43 NSWLR 249 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (1993) 31 NSWLR 106 Minister for Natural Resources v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (1987) 9 NSWLR 154 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering Crown Lands Act (1992) 76 LGRA 192 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering Crown Lands (Consolidation Act) (1988) 14 NSWLR 685 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister for Natural Resources (1986) 59 LGRA 318 Tillmans Butcheries Pty Limited v Australian Meat Industry Employees Union (1979) 27 ALR 367 Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (1991) 72 LGRA 149 DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs.