Agricultural Equity Investments Pty Limited v The Hon Chris Hatcher MP, Minister for Resources and Energy, Special Minister [2015] NSWLEC 23

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Agricultural Equity Investments Pty Limited v The Hon Chris Hatcher MP, Minister for Resources and Energy, Special Minister [2015] NSWLEC 23 Hearing dates: 28 March, 2 April (further written submissions) 2014 Date of orders: 20 February 2015 Decision date: 20 February 2015 Jurisdiction: Class 8 Before: Pepper J Decision: Amended summons dismissed. Applicants to pay the first and third respondents' costs. Catchwords: MINING: whether decision to grant an order exempting a party from a statutory prohibition made beyond power – whether exemption order made for an improper purpose – whether procedural fairness denied in making the order – application dismissed. Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, s 96 Mining Act 1906, s 23 Mining Act 1973, ss 53, 55 Mining Act 1992, ss 3A, 5, 6, 19, 33, 51, 58, 59 62, 63, 65, 73 Mining Amendment Act 2008 Mining Legislation Amendment Act 1996 Mining Regulation 2010, cl 11 Cases Cited: Australian Education Union v General Manager of Fair Work Australia [2012] HCA 19; (2012) 246 CLR 117 Commissioner of Taxation v Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd [2012] HCA 55; (2012) 250 CLR 503 CPCF v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] HCA 1 Gifford v Strang Patrick Stevedoring Pty Limited [2003] HCA 33; (2003) 214 CLR 269 Kioa v West [1985] HCA 81; (1985) 159 CLR 550 Lee v New South Wales Crime Commission [2013] HCA 39; (2013) 251 CLR 96 Mandurah Enterprises Pty Ltd v Western Australian Planning Commission [2010] HCA 2; (2010) 240 CLR 409 Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Marrickville Council [2010] NSWCA 145; (2010) 174 LGERA 67 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend [1986] HCA 40; (1986) 162 CLR 24 Plaintiff M150 of 2013 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2014] HCA 25; (2014) 88 ALJR 735 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; (1998) 194 CLR 355 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs; Ex parte Lam [2003] HCA 6; (2003) 214 CLR 1 Samrein Pty Ltd v Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board (1982) 56 ALJR 678 Technical Products Pty Ltd v State Government Insurance Office (Queensland) [1989] HCA 24; (1988) 167 CLR 45 Thompson v Randwick Corporation [1950] HCA 33; (1950) 81 CLR 87 Ulan Coal Mines v Minister for Mineral Resources [2008] NSWCA 174; (2008) 161 LGERA 391 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Agricultural Equity Investments Pty Ltd (First Applicant) Gold and Copper Resources Pty Limited (Second Applicant) The Hon Chris Hatcher MP. Minister for Resources and Energy, Special Minister (First Respondent) Big Island Mining Pty Limited (Second Respondent) Westlime Pty Ltd (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr I Hemmings SC and Ms A Hemmings (First Applicant) Mr I Hemmings SC and Ms A Hemmings (Second Applicant) Mr J Emmett (First Respondent) N/A (Second Respondent) Mr T To (Third Respondent)