NSW ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL v MINISTER ADMINISTERING THE CROWN LANDS ACT [2007] NSWCA 281

Appeal Outcome: Special leave application granted by the High Court - 16 May 2008Appeal dismissed with costs by the High Court - 2 October 2008 - [2008] HCA 48

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: NSW ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL v MINISTER ADMINISTERING THE CROWN LANDS ACT [2007] NSWCA 281

HEARING DATE(S): 31 July 2007

JUDGMENT DATE: 12 October 2007

JUDGMENT OF: Mason P at 1; Giles JA at 62; Tobias JA at 79

DECISION: Appeal allowed

CATCHWORDS: ABORIGINALS – Land rights under legislation – New South Wales – claim to Crown land – lawfully used or occupied – whether land in 'use' – where land being used in preparation for sale – where land otherwise vacant – Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, s36(1)(b) - STATUTES – Acts of parliament – interpretation – inconsistent statutes – internal inconsistency – no inconsistency – Crown Lands Act 1989, Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, s 36(1)(a), s36(1)(b) - STATUTES – Acts of parliament – interpretation – particular word – specific interpretation – 'use'– Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, s36(1)(b)

Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 LEGISLATION CITED: Crown Lands Act 1989 Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 Land and Environment Court Act 1979

Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 Daruk Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (1993) 30 NSWLR 140 Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (1997) 41 NSWLR 459 Maurici v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue (2003) 212 CLR 111 Maurici v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue(2001) 51 NSWLR 673 Minister Administering the Crown Lands (Consolidation) Act v Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council (1992) 75 LGRA 133 CASES CITED: Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council (No 2) (2001) 50 NSWLR 665 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v NSW Aboriginal Land Council (1993) 31 NSWLR 106 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (No 2) (1997) 42 NSWLR 641 Minister for Natural Resources v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (1987) 9 NSWLR 154 Mir Bros Unit Constructions Pty Ltd v Roads & Traffic Authority of New South Wales [2006] NSWCA 314 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 the Crown Lands Act (1992) 76 LGRA 192 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2007] NSWLEC 158