Illin on behalf of the Bindal People #2 v State of Queensland [2024] FCA 1242

Illin on behalf of the Bindal People #2 v State of Queensland [2024] FCA 1242

The applicant was not properly authorised by the reconstituted claim group to prosecute the amended claimant application, as members (particularly the Ross family) were not given reasonable opportunity to participate in decision making for authorisation, and the defect in authorisation was substantive and cannot be cured by an order under s 84D; therefore a further authorisation meeting is required.

Parties
Applicant: Alec Illin & Ors on behalf of the Bindal People #2; First Respondent: State of Queensland; Second Respondent: Commonwealth of Australia; Third Respondent: Charters Towers Regional Council (and others named in the Schedule); Fourth Respondent: Burdekin Shire Council; Fifth Respondent: Townsville City Council; Sixth Respondent: Angelina Akee; Seventh Respondent: Tanya Akee; Eighth Respondent: Christina Hope George; Ninth Respondent: Pamela Petrina Hegarty; Tenth Respondent: Glenda Lukasik; Eleventh Respondent: Jeanette Ernestine Pryor; Twelfth Respondent: Randal Ross; Thirteenth Respondent: Joanne Stout; Fourteenth Respondent: Ergon Energy Corporation Limited ACN 087 646 062; Fifteenth Respondent: Sunwater Limited ACN 131 034 985; Sixteenth Respondent: Telstra Corporation Limited ABN 33 051 775 556; Seventeenth Respondent: Glenis Lyle Jones; Eighteenth Respondent: Colin Anthony White; Nineteenth Respondent: Irene Augusta White; Twentieth Respondent: Lorene Margaret Williamson; Twenty First Respondent: William Russell Williamson; Twenty Third Respondent: Helen Frances Evans; Twenty Fourth Respondent: Douglas Roy Kienne; Twenty Fifth Respondent: Gayle Ann Kienne; Twenty Sixth Respondent: Brian Walter Taylor; Twenty Seventh Respondent: Alan Gilbert Thomasson; Twenty Eighth Respondent: Desley Gail Thomasson; Twenty Ninth Respondent: B & B Morley Pty Ltd ACN 063 919 764; Thirtieth Respondent: Ashley John Crocker; Thirty First Respondent: John Francis Great; Thirty Second Respondent: Eugene Michael L'Huillier; Thirty Third Respondent: Pamela Rose L'Huillier; Thirty Fourth Respondent: Lower Burdekin Water; Thirty Fifth Respondent: Frew Charles McPherson; Thirty Sixth Respondent: Pacific Reef Fisheries Australia Pty Ltd; Thirty Seventh Respondent: Amplitel Pty Ltd as Trustee of the Towers Business Operating Trust (ABN 75 357 171 746)
Jurisdiction
Australia
Judgment Date
25 October 2024
Procedural Posture
Native Title Determination Application / Interlocutory Application for Leave to Amend Claimant Application and Authorisation
Outcome
Application refused
Legal Topics
Claim Group Authorisation, Amendment of Native Title Claimant Applications, Defect in Authorisation Under S 251 B, Court Discretion Under S 84 D
Native Title Claim Group Authorisation Amendment of Native Title Claimant Applications Defect in Authorisation Under S 251 B Court Discretion Under S 84 D

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Parties

Alec Illin & Ors on behalf of the Bindal People #2

Applicant

State of Queensland

First Respondent

Commonwealth of Australia

Second Respondent

Charters Towers Regional Council (and others named in the Schedule)

Third Respondent

Burdekin Shire Council

Fourth Respondent

Townsville City Council

Fifth Respondent

Angelina Akee

Sixth Respondent

Tanya Akee

Seventh Respondent

Christina Hope George

Eighth Respondent

Pamela Petrina Hegarty

Ninth Respondent

Glenda Lukasik

Tenth Respondent

Jeanette Ernestine Pryor

Eleventh Respondent

Randal Ross

Twelfth Respondent

Joanne Stout

Thirteenth Respondent

Ergon Energy Corporation Limited ACN 087 646 062

Fourteenth Respondent

Sunwater Limited ACN 131 034 985

Fifteenth Respondent

Telstra Corporation Limited ABN 33 051 775 556

Sixteenth Respondent

Glenis Lyle Jones

Seventeenth Respondent

Colin Anthony White

Eighteenth Respondent

Irene Augusta White

Nineteenth Respondent

Lorene Margaret Williamson

Twentieth Respondent

William Russell Williamson

Twenty First Respondent

Helen Frances Evans

Twenty Third Respondent

Douglas Roy Kienne

Twenty Fourth Respondent

Gayle Ann Kienne

Twenty Fifth Respondent

Brian Walter Taylor

Twenty Sixth Respondent

Alan Gilbert Thomasson

Twenty Seventh Respondent

Desley Gail Thomasson

Twenty Eighth Respondent

B & B Morley Pty Ltd ACN 063 919 764

Twenty Ninth Respondent

Ashley John Crocker

Thirtieth Respondent

John Francis Great

Thirty First Respondent

Eugene Michael L'Huillier

Thirty Second Respondent

Pamela Rose L'Huillier

Thirty Third Respondent

Lower Burdekin Water

Thirty Fourth Respondent

Frew Charles McPherson

Thirty Fifth Respondent

Pacific Reef Fisheries Australia Pty Ltd

Thirty Sixth Respondent

Amplitel Pty Ltd as Trustee of the Towers Business Operating Trust (ABN 75 357 171 746)

Thirty Seventh Respondent

Procedural Posture

Native Title Determination Application / Interlocutory Application for Leave to Amend Claimant Application and Authorisation

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the reconstituted claim group gave reasonable opportunity to participate in decision making
  2. 2 Whether applicant is properly authorised under Native Title Act s 251B to prosecute amended claim
  3. 3 Appropriateness of order under s 84D of Native Title Act

Ratio Decidendi

The applicant was not properly authorised by the reconstituted claim group to prosecute the amended claimant application, as members (particularly the Ross family) were not given reasonable opportunity to participate in decision making for authorisation, and the defect in authorisation was substantive and cannot be cured by an order under s 84D; therefore a further authorisation meeting is required.

Court Disposition

Application refused

Orders

  • The interlocutory application filed 12 August 2024 is dismissed.
  • Upon amendment of Form 1 claim group description, certain named respondents will cease to be parties pursuant to s 84(8) Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).