Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council [2016] NSWCA 253

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council [2016] NSWCA 253 Hearing dates: 8 August 2016 Decision date: 08 September 2016 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Meagher JA at [17]; Leeming JA at [18] Decision: In 2015/370299:

Appeal dismissed, with costs.

In 2015/370306:

Appeal dismissed, with costs. Catchwords: ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS – "claimable Crown lands" – claim made in 2009 over land the subject of planning for residential subdivision – earlier claim over some of the land refused by Minister in 2004 – Minister refused claim on basis that land was likely to be needed for residential purposes – primary judge allowed appeal by land council – primary judge rejected Minister's claims that land was needed for residential lands and for essential public purpose – whether error of law in finding by primary judge that Minister's opinion in 2004 did not sustain subsequent decision – whether residential lands and essential public purpose limbs of definition of "claimable Crown lands" were mutually exclusive – appeal dismissed – Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW), subss 36(1)(b1) and (c), considered Legislation Cited: Aboriginal Land Rights (Amendment) Act 1986 (NSW) Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW), s 36 Aboriginal Land Rights Amendment (Regions) Order 2014 Housing Act 1985 (NSW), Sch 1, cl 4 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 33 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW), s 57 Land Commission Act 1976 (NSW) Landcom Corporation Act 2001 (NSW) Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW), Sch 2 Cases Cited: Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2008] NSWLEC 124 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Ltd (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 BP Australia Ltd v Brown (2003) 58 NSWLR 322; [2003] NSWCA 216 Buck v Bavone (1976) 135 CLR 110 Chamwell Pty Ltd v Strathfield Council [2007] NSWLEC 114; 151 LGERA 400 Commissioner of Stamps (SA) v Telegraph Investment Co Pty Ltd (1995) 184 CLR 453 Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2006] NSWLEC 180; 149 LGERA 162 Grain Elevators Board (Vict) v Dunmunkle Corporation (1946) 73 CLR 70 Jerringja Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2007] NSWLEC 577; 156 LGERA 65 La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (1991) 74 LGRA 176 Leichardt Municipal Council v Seatainer Terminals Pty Ltd (1981) 48 LGRA 409 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 Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council (1998) 43 NSWLR 249 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council (No 2) (2001) 50 NSWLR 665; [2001] NSWCA 28 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council [2009] NSWCA 151 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council [2009] NSWCA 352 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu (1999) 197 CLR 611; [1999] HCA 21 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (the Nelson Bay Claim) (2014) 88 NSWLR 125; [2014] NSWCA 377 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands (Consolidation) Act and the Western Lands Act (1988) 14 NSWLR 685 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v The Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (Moira Park Road No 1 and Moira Park Road No 2 claims) [2015] NSWLEC 179 NSW Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (No 2) [2008] NSWLEC 13 R v Seller; R v McCarthy [2013] NSWCCA 42; 232 A Crim R 249 Reid v Sinderberry (The Man Power Case) (1944) 68 CLR 504 Shire of Perth v O'Keefe (1964) 110 CLR 529 Simon v Condran (2013) 85 NSWLR 768; [2013] NSWCA 388 The King v Connell; Ex parte the Hetton Bellbird Collieries Ltd (1944) 69 CLR 407 The King v Wallis; ex parte Employers Association of Wool Selling Brokers (1949) 78 CLR 529 Wingecarribee Shire Council v De Angelis [2016] NSWCA 189 Woollahra Municipal Council v Banool Developments Pty Ltd (1973) 129 CLR 138 Yates Property Corporation Pty Ltd v Darling Harbour Authority (1991) 24 NSWLR 156 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (Appellant) New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: A M Stewart SC, G E Wright (Appellant) S E Pritchard SC, B K Lim (Respondent)