La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (No 2) [2016] NSWLEC 137

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (No 2) [2016] NSWLEC 137 Hearing dates: 22, 23, and 24 February 2016; further written submissions 29 February 2016 and 3 March 2016 Date of orders: 27 October 2016 Decision date: 27 October 2016 Jurisdiction: Class 3 Before: Sheahan J with Laing AC Decision: Appeal upheld. See orders at [186]. Catchwords: ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS – land claims under s 36(2) of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) – whether Crown lands claimable under s 36(1) of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act – whether land "vested in Her Majesty" – claims refused in 2010 on ground that land claimed was "not claimable Crown land within the meaning of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act as it comprises freehold land which is not vested in Her Majesty" – land vested in State of New South Wales at time of claim –land the subject of a declaration under s 25A of the Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 (NSW) – Register amended subsequent to claim to replace State of New South Wales as owner with Land Commission of NSW –whether there was an exercise of power under s 12(1)(d) of the Real Property Act 1990 (NSW) – authority of Land and Property Information Officer to exercise the Registrar-General's power under s 12(1)(d) of the Real Property Act – whether recording on Register of State of New South Wales as registered proprietor erroneous for purposes of s 12(1)(d) of the Real Property Act – application of s 42(1) of the Real Property Act – indefeasibility of title – conclusiveness of Register – application of s 12(3) of the Real Property Act– effect of correction of error in the Register – whether correction would affect a right accrued from a recording made in the Register before the correction – whether correction to Register has retrospective effect by operation of s 12(3)(c) of the Real Property Act Legislation Cited: Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 Crown Lands Act 1989 Crown Lands and Other Acts (Reserves) Amendment Act 1974 Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 Land and Environment Court Rules 2007 Local Government Act 1919 Local Government Act 1993 Pastures Protection Act 1934 Real Property Act 1900 Western Lands Act 1901 Cases Cited: Bankstown Airport Ltd v Noor al Houda Islamic College Pty Ltd [2002] NSWSC 193; NSW Conv R 56-038 Birrigan Gargle Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (1999) 102 LGERA 33; [1999] NSWLEC 12 Birrigan Gargle Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [1999] NSWLEC 123 Black v Garnock (2007) 230 CLR 438; [2007] HCA 31 Boyd v Mayor of Wellington [1924] NZLR 1174 Brantag Pty Ltd v Minister for Mines (No 3) (29 March 1995 BC 9504440) Breskvar v Wall (1971) 126 CLR 376 Carltona Ltd v Minister for Works [1943] 2 All ER 560 Castle Constructions Pty Limited v Sahab Holdings Pty Ltd (2013) 247 CLR 149; [2013] HCA 11 City of Canada Bay Council v F & D Bonaccorso Pty Ltd (2007) 71 NSWLR 424; [2007] NSWCA 351 Dorrigo Plateau Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (2007) 155 LGERA 307; [2007] NSWLEC 653 FNCB – Waltons Finance Ltd v Crest Realty Pty Ltd (1977) 10 NSWLR 621 Frazer v Walker [1967] 1 AC 569 Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [1996] NSWLEC 223 Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (1997) 41 NSWLR 459; 94 LGERA 43 In re Athlumney; Ex parte Wilson [1898] 2 QB 547 La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2014] NSWLEC 128 Marilyn Elizabeth Trethowan v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2013] NSWSC 576 Mathieson v Burton (1971) 124 CLR 1; [1971] HCA 4 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council (2009) 166 LGERA 379 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v NSW Aboriginal Land Council (2008) 237 CLR 285; [2008] HCA 48 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24 Mogo Local Aboriginal Land Council v Eurobodalla Shire Council (2002) 54 NSWLR 15; [2002] NSWCA 12 Narromine Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (1993) 79 LGERA 430 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands (Consolidation) Act and the Western Lands Act (1988) 14 NSWLR 685; 66 LGRA 265 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (Boggabri) [2014] NSWLEC 58 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (Moonbi) [2014] NSWLEC 144 O'Reilly v State Bank of Victoria Commissioners (1983) 153 CLR 1 Palais Parking Station Pty Ltd v Shea (1980) 24 SASR 425 Pirie v Registrar-General (1962) 109 CLR 619; [1962] HCA 58 Quach v Marrickville Municipal Council (No 2) (1990) 22 NSWLR 65 Re Reference under Section 11 of Ombudsman Act 1976 (Cth) for an Advisory Opinion; Ex parte Director-General of Social Services (1979) 2 ALD 86 Sahab Holdings Pty Ltd v Registrar-General (2011) 15 BPR 29, 627; [2011] NSWCA 395 State Bank of New South Wales v Berowra Waters Holdings Pty Ltd (1986) 4 NSWLR 398 Westfield Management Ltd v Perpetual Trustee Company Ltd (2007) 233 CLR 528; [2007] HCA 45 Texts Cited: P. Butt, Land Law (6th ed., 2010, Thomson Reuters) Category: Principal judgment Parties: La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council (Applicant) Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Dr S E Pritchard, SC, with Mr T Prince, barrister (Applicant) Mr A M Stewart, SC, with Mr C L Lenehan, barrister (Respondent)