Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council [2012] NSWCA 359

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council [2012] NSWCA 359 Hearing dates: 2 August 2012 Decision date: 09 November 2012 Before: Beazley JA at [1]; McColl JA at [2]; Basten JA at [3]; Macfarlan JA at [60]; Sackville AJA at [61] 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, including closed police station, which was awaiting sale - land visited intermittently by police officers for the purpose of defeating earlier claim - whether land claimable Crown land - whether land lawfully used or occupied - whether land must be used or occupied beyond a notional degree - Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW), s 36

WORDS & PHRASES - "lawfully used or occupied" - Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW), s 36 Legislation Cited: Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW), ss 3, 36 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW), s 57 Local Government Act 1919 (NSW), s 132 Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) Public Works Act 1912 (NSW) Cases Cited: Attorney General v Brown (1847) 1 LEGGE 312 Council of the City of Newcastle v Royal Newcastle Hospital [1957] HCA 15; 96 CLR 493 The Council of the City of Parramatta v Brickworks Ltd [1972] HCA 21; 128 CLR 1 Council of the Municipality of Randwick v Rutledge [1959] HCA 63; 102 CLR 54 Daruk Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (1993) 30 NSWLR 140 Eaton & Sons Pty Ltd v The Council of the Shire of Warringah [1972] HCA 33; 129 CLR 270 Housing Commission of New South Wales v Falconer [1981] 1 NSWLR 547 Mabo v Queensland [No 2] [1992] HCA 23; 175 CLR 1 Maurici v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2003] HCA 8, 212 CLR 111 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 Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council [2009] NSWCA 289 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v NSW Aboriginal Land Council [2008] HCA 48; 237 CLR 285 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v NSW Aboriginal Land Council (Nowra Brickworks Claim (No 1)) (1993) 31 NSWLR 106 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands (Consolidation) Act and the Western Lands Act (Winbar Claim No 3) (1988) 14 NSWLR 685 NSW Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2007] NSWCA 281; 157 LGERA 18 R v Inhabitants of St Nicholas, Rochester (1833) 110 ER 773 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act 1989 (Appellant) La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: