Hillig v Darkinjung Pty Ltd & Ors [2008] NSWCA 75

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Hillig v Darkinjung Pty Ltd & Ors [2008] NSWCA 75 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 9 May 2007

JUDGMENT DATE: 29 April 2008

JUDGMENT OF: Beazley JA at 1; Giles JA at 2; McColl JA at 11

1. Appeal allowed. DECISION: 2. Orders and declarations made by Austin J on 19 June 2006 set aside. 3. Interlocutory processes filed by the first to sixth respondents on 29 May 2006 dismissed. 4. Costs reserved.

CATCHWORDS: ABORIGINALS — Aboriginal land councils — powers and functions — appointment of administrator to exercise all the functions of Local Aboriginal Land Council — whether members of Local Aboriginal Land Council retained voting function to exercise resolution-making power conferred by provisos to clauses in constitution of company in which Local Aboriginal Land Council held the sole share - STATUTORY INTERPRETATION — characterisation of Local Aboriginal Land Council constituted under Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 — authority and capacity as a statutory corporation — statutory functions, duties and responsibilities — role of officers and members.

Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 LEGISLATION CITED: Aboriginal Land Rights Amendment Act 2006 Interpretation Act 1987 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Bass v Permanent Trustee Co Ltd [1999] HCA 9; (1999) 198 CLR 334 Bonan v Hadgkiss [2007] FCAFC 113; (2007) 160 FCR 29 Commissioner for Railways (NSW) v Cavanough [1935] HCA 45; (1935) 53 CLR 220 Darkinjung Pty Ltd v Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council; Hillig v Darkinjung Pty Ltd; Darkinjung v Warner [2006] NSWSC 1008; (2006) 203 FLR 394 Darkinjung Pty Ltd v Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council; Hillig v Darkinjung Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 1217 Hadkinson v Hadkinson [1952] P 285 Harrington v Rich [2008] FCAFC 61 CASES CITED: Hillig v Darkinjung Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 1371 Hillig v Darkinjung Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 594; (2006) 201 FLR 148 Hillig v Darkinjung Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 683 In re F (Mental Patient: Sterilisation) v West Berkshire Health Authority [1991] UKHL 1; [1990] 2 AC 1 Isaacs v Robertson [1985] AC 97 Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council v Sanpine Pty Ltd [2007] HCA 61; (2007) 82 ALJR 345 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Jones (1998) 43 NSWLR 300 Sanpine Pty Ltd v Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council [2006] NSWCA 291 Sanpine Pty Ltd v Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council [2005] NSWSC 365