New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2012] NSWLEC 174

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2012] NSWLEC 174 Hearing dates: 1 - 2 May 2012 Decision date: 26 July 2012 Jurisdiction: Class 3 Before: Pain J Decision: The Court makes the following orders: 1. The Applicant's appeal under s 36(6) of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 is dismissed. 2. Costs are reserved. Catchwords: ABORIGINAL - land claim - whether Crown land claimable - whether claimed land lawfully used or occupied as a common at date of claim - whether valid inference of use or occupation arises from business records of common trust produced under subpoena - whether use or occupation nominal or notional at date of claim - discharge of onus of proof by Minister Legislation Cited: Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 s 36 Commons Management Act 1989 s 10, s 25, s 31, s 37, s 41 Crown Lands Act 1989 Rural Lands Protection Act 1998 Rural Lands Protection (General) Regulation 2001 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Pt 33 r 33.6 Cases Cited: Bradshaw v McEwans Pty Ltd (1951) 217 ALR 1 Cloverdell Lumber Co Pty Ltd v Abbott [1924] HCA 4; (1924) 34 CLR 122 Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2006] NSWLEC 180; (2006) 149 LGERA 162 Daruk Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (1993) 30 NSWLR 140 Girlock (Sales) Pty Ltd v Hurrell [1982] HCA 15; (1982) 149 CLR 155 Griffith Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2008] NSWLEC 108 Gurnett v Macquarie Stevedoring Co Pty Ltd (1955) 55 SR NSW 243 Gurnett v Macquarie Stevedoring Co Pty Ltd [1955] HCA 63; (1955) 95 CLR 99 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 Luxton v Vines [1952] HCA 19; (1952) 85 CLR 352 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council [2009] NSWCA 138; (2009) 166 LGERA 379 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council (No 2) [2001] NSWCA 28; (2001) 50 NSWLR 665 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council [2009] NSWCA 289; (2009) 168 LGERA 71 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (1993) 31 NSWLR 106 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council [2008] HCA 48; (2008) 237 CLR 285 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council [2009] NSWCA 352; (2009) 171 LGERA 56 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Pochi [1980] FCA 85; (1980) 44 FLR 41 Minister for Natural Resources v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (1987) 9 NSWLR 154 Newcastle City Council v Royal Newcastle Hospital [1959] UKPCHCA 1; (1959) 100 CLR 1 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] NSWCA 281; (2007) 157 LGERA 18 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2008] NSWLEC 241 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (No 2) [2008] NSWLEC 13 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands (Consolidation) Act and the Western Lands Act (1988) 14 NSWLR 685 R v Deputy Industrial Injuries Commissioner; Ex parte Moore [1965] 1 QB 456 Vilro Pty Ltd (In Voluntary Liquidation) v Roads and Traffic Authority NSW [2010] NSWLEC 234; (2010) 179 LGERA 47 Wanaruah Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2001] NSWLEC 20; (2001) 113 LGERA 163 Texts Cited: JD Heydon, Cross on Evidence, 8th ed (2010) LexisNexis Butterworths Category: Principal judgment Parties: New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (Applicant) Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (Respondent) Representation: Mr M Wright with Mr J Hutton (Applicant) Dr J Renwick SC with Mr A Stewart (Respondent) Chalk & Fitzgerald (Applicant) Crown Solicitor's Office (Respondent) File Number(s): 30051 of 2011