Henry Richard Dimer & Ors on behalf of Marlinyu Ghoorlie v Simon John Debeen & Anor

[2024] NNTTA 20

NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL

Henry Richard Dimer & Ors on behalf of Marlinyu Ghoorlie v Simon John Debeen & Anor [2024] NNTTA 20 (25 March 2024)

Application No: WO2023/0780

IN THE MATTER of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)

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IN THE MATTER of an inquiry into an expedited procedure objection application

Henry Richard Dimer & Ors on behalf of Marlinyu Ghoorlie (WC2017/007)

(native title party)

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Simon John Debeen

(grantee party)

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State of Western Australia

(Government party)

DECISION TO DISMISS OBJECTION APPLICATION

Tribunal:	Mr Glen Kelly
Place:	Perth
Date:	25 March 2024

Catchwords:

Native title – future act – proposed grant of special prospecting licence – expedited procedure objection application – failure to comply with directions – s 148(b) – objection application dismissed

Legislation:

Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) ss 29, 31, 32, 148(b)

Cases:

David Stock & Others on behalf of the Nyiyaparli People/Western Australia/Giralia Resources NL [2000] NNTTA 333 (Stock v Giralia)

Michael Daniel Teelow/Michael Page/Northern Territory [2001] NNTTA 107; 166 FLR 266 (Teelow v Page)

Representatives(s) of the native title party:

Rachel McGarry, Houston Legal & Consultants

Representative(s) of the grantee party: Simon Debeen

Representatives(s) of the Government party: Andrea Wyles and David Crabtree, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety

REASONS FOR DETERMINATION

Background

1. On 23 August 2023, the State of Western Australia gave notice under s 29 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) of its intention to grant special prospecting licence P 25/2763-S to Simon John Debeen. The s 29 notice included a statement that the State considers the grant of the proposed licence as an act attracting the expedited procedure under the Native Title Act (expedited procedure statement).

2. If the expedited procedure applies, the State may grant the proposed licence without requiring parties to enter into the right to negotiate procedure per s 31 of the Native Title Act.

3. The proposed licence is located approximately 37 km north-east of Kambalda and covers 0.01 km². The proposed licence sits wholly within the registered native title claim area of Marlinyu Ghoorlie (WC2017/007, WAD647/2017).

4. On 20 September 2023, the legal representative for Marlinyu Ghoorlie lodged an objection with the National Native Title Tribunal in response to the State's assertion that the expedited procedure applies to the grant of the licence. The objection application was lodged within the timeframe outlined in s 32(3) of the Native Title Act and therefore, under s 32(4), the Tribunal is required to determine whether the grant of the proposed licence is an act attracting the expedited procedure.

Relevant Facts

1. Under a delegation from the President of the Tribunal, I was appointed to constitute the Tribunal for the purposes of the inquiry in this matter.

2. On 8 November 2023, I made directions requiring all parties to provide contentions and evidence for the conduct of the inquiry. Per those directions, Marlinyu Ghoorlie were directed to provide their contentions and evidence by 22 February 2024. On the date of compliance, the Tribunal did not receive any contentions or evidence from Marlinyu Ghoorlie.

3. On 27 February 2024, the Tribunal emailed all parties, noting that Marlinyu Ghoorlie had failed to comply and that the objection was now at risk of dismissal per s 148(b) of the Native Title Act. Parties were given until close of business 5 March 2024 to provide a response. No response was received from Marlinyu Ghoorlie by this time.

4. On 6 March 2024, the Tribunal wrote to all parties and confirmed that Marlinyu Ghoorlie had not provided a response and the matter would proceed to dismissal.

Consideration of Dismissal

1. Per s 148(b) of the Native Title Act, the Tribunal may dismiss an objection application at any stage of the inquiry in circumstances where the native title party fails within a reasonable time to proceed with the objection application or to comply with a direction of the Tribunal. While the Tribunal has broad discretion to dismiss an objection application, doing so has significant consequences for the native title party and is not an action taken lightly.

2. The nature of the expedited procedure and the principles relevant to consideration of dismissal of an objection application for failure to comply with directions are set out in the Tribunal's decision in Teelow v Page ([13]). I have applied those principles in my consideration of this matter.

3. On this occasion, it is my view that Marlinyu Ghoorlie has been afforded sufficient opportunity to progress this objection application but have failed to do so within a reasonable time. Marlinyu Ghoorlie have failed to comply with directions set by the Tribunal, have not provided reasoning for their non-compliance and no request for an extension has been made. 

4. Having regard to all of the facts and circumstances of this matter, I am satisfied that the objection application should be dismissed.

Determination

1. The expedited procedure objection application in relation to P 25/2763-S is dismissed pursuant to s 148(b) of the Native Title Act.

Mr Glen Kelly
Member
25 March 2024