Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council [2014] NSWCA 69

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council [2014] NSWCA 69 Hearing dates: 20 February 2014 Decision date: 18 March 2014 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; Barrett JA at [46]; Bergin CJ in Eq at [60] Decision: (1) Appeal allowed. (2) The orders made by Pain J on 22 May 2013 be set aside. (3) In lieu thereof that: (i) The appeal filed by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council in Land and Environment Court proceedings no. 30052 of 2011 be dismissed insofar as the land claimed in those proceedings comprised Crown land reserved from sale for the purpose of 'future public requirements'; (ii) The appeal filed by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council in Land and Environment Court proceedings no. 30052 of 2011 be allowed insofar as the land claimed in those proceedings comprised Crown land reserved from sale for the purpose of 'public recreation'; (iii) The land claimed in Land and Environment Court proceedings no. 30052 of 2011 which comprises Crown land reserved from sale for the purpose of 'public recreation' be transferred by the Minister in fee simple to Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council. (4) Order the respondent to pay the appellant's costs at first instance and on appeal. [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 future public requirements - whether land lawfully used or occupied - whether Licence and Permissive Occupancy for grazing valid - whether Ministers exercised powers to grant Permissive Occupancy and Licence for reserved purpose of future public requirements or purposes incidental or ancillary thereto - ascertainment of Ministers' subjective purpose through inference from objective circumstances - relevance of statement in Permissive Occupancy and Licence of intended use of claimed lands for grazing - Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW), s 36; Crown Lands Act 1989 (NSW), ss 6, 34 Legislation Cited: Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 Crown Lands Act 1989 Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 Crown Lands (Continued Tenures) Act 1989 Forestry Act 1916 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 Soil Conservation Act 1938 Cases Cited: A v Corruption and Crime Commissioner [2013] WASCA 288 ASX Operations Pty Ltd v Pont Data Australia Pty Ltd (No 1) (1990) 27 FCR 460 Attorney-General (NSW) v Cooma Municipal Council (1962) 63 SR (NSW) 287; 8 LGRA 111 Austral Monsoon Industries Pty Ltd v Pittwater Council [2009] NSWCA 154; 75 NSWLR 169 Darley Australia Pty Ltd v Walfertan Processors Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 48; 188 LGERA 26 Industrial Equity Ltd v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation [1990] HCA 46; 170 CLR 649 Mandurah Enterprises Pty Ltd v Western Australian Planning Commission [2008] WASCA 211; 38 WAR 276 Minister Administering 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 (Goomallee) [2012] NSWCA 358; 84 NSWLR 219 Pascoe v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1956) 6 AITR 315 Strong v Woolworths Ltd [2012] HCA 5; 246 CLR 182 The State of New South Wales v The Commonwealth [1926] HCA 23; 38 CLR 74 Thompson v Council of the Municipality of Randwick [1950] HCA 33; 81 CLR 87 Transfield Pty Ltd v Arlo International Ltd (1980) 144 CLR 83 Warringah Shire Council v Pittwater Provisional Council (1992) 26 NSWLR 491 Waverley Municipal Council v Attorney-General (1979) 40 LGRA 419 Texts Cited: Aronson and Groves, Judicial Review of Administrative Action, (5th ed 2013, Lawbook Co) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (Appellant) New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: N Williams SC/H El-Hage (Appellant) S Pritchard SC/H Pintos-Lopez (Respondent) Solicitors: I V Knight, Crown Solicitor (Appellant) Chalk & Fitzgerald (Respondent) File Number(s): CA 2013/187788 Decision under appeal Citation: New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (Limbri) [2013] NSWLEC 67 Date of Decision: 2013-05-22 00:00:00 Before: Pain J File Number(s): LEC 2011/30052