Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (Goomallee Claim) [2012] NSWCA 358

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (Goomallee Claim) [2012] NSWCA 358 Hearing dates: 1 August 2012 Decision date: 09 November 2012 Before: Beazley JA at [1]; McColl JA at [2]; Basten JA at [3]; Macfarlan JA at [42]; Sackville AJA at [43] Decision: (1) Appeal dismissed. (2) The appellant to pay the respondent's costs in this Court. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS - claim to Crown land reserved for public purposes - grazing licence granted in respect of land - whether land lawfully used or occupied - whether licence valid - whether Minister had power to grant licence - whether power to grant licence depends on use under the licence - whether power available where licence not inconsistent with reservation of land - Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW), s 36; Crown Lands Act 1989 (NSW), ss 34 and 87

CROWN LAND - reserves - land reserved for public recreation - whether Minister empowered to grant licences not inconsistent or incompatible with reservation - whether grazing licence validly granted - whether land lawfully used or occupied - Crown Lands Act 1989 (NSW), ss 6, 34 and 87 Legislation Cited: Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW), s 36 Crown Lands Act 1989 (NSW), ss 3, 6, 34, 87, 153, 155; Pt 5; Sch 8, cl 1 Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 (NSW), s 28 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW), s 57 Cases Cited: Attorney General v Cooma Municipal Council (1963) 8 LGRA 111 Collector of Customs v Agfa-Gevaert Ltd [1996] HCA 36; 186 CLR 389 Council of the Municipality of Randwick v Rutledge [1959] HCA 63; 102 CLR 54 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council [2009] NSWCA 138; 166 LGERA 379 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council [No 2] ("Nowra Brickworks (No 2)") (1997) 42 NSWLR 641 Minister Administering the Crown Lands (Consolidation) Act v Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council (1992) 75 LGRA 133 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands (Consolidation) Act and Western Lands Act (1988) 14 NSWLR 68 Storey v North Sydney Municipal Council [1970] HCA 44; 123 CLR 574 Waverley Municipal Council v Attorney General (1979) 40 LGRA 419 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (Appellant) New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: