Doyle on behalf of the Iman People #2 v State of Queensland [2016] FCA 13

The grant and conversion of the specified leases, and the dedication of a road as depicted on Plan LE9, constituted previous exclusive possession acts under s 23B Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) because they are valid past acts as defined in the Act, being legislatively and prospectively validated by the NTA and QNTA, not by retrospective removal of constitutional inconsistency. The presumption of regularity applies to infer the requisite proclamation for road dedication; thus, the land was duly dedicated as a public road and native title is extinguished.

Parties: Applicant: Richard Doyle & Ors on behalf of the Iman People #2; First Respondent: State of Queensland; Second Respondent: Banana Shire Council; Third Respondent: Central Highlands Regional Council; Fourth Respondent: Maranoa Regional Council; Fifth Respondent: Western Downs Regional Council; Sixth Respondent: Ergon Energy Corporation Limited; Seventh Respondent: Telstra Corporation Limited; Eighth Respondent: Australia Pacific LNG Pty Limited; Ninth Respondent: Glencore Coal Queensland Pty Limited; Tenth Respondent: Jemena Queensland Gas Pipeline (1) Pty Ltd; Eleventh Respondent: Jemena Queensland Gas Pipeline (2) Pty Ltd; Twelfth Respondent: Moonie Oil Pty Ltd; Thirteenth Respondent: Santos QNT Pty Ltd; Fourteenth Respondent: Vamgas Pty Ltd; Fifteenth Respondent: Eion Evan Atkins and Brian John Atkins; Sixteenth Respondent: Avon Ross Hamilton, Carol Hamilton and Nathan Jay Hamilton; Seventeenth Respondent: Douglas R Baker, Tania M Baker and Tony P Baker; Eighteenth Respondent: Ronald Robert Baxter; Nineteenth Respondent: Hazel Thelma Bruggemann and Robin Allan Bruggemann; Twentieth Respondent: Judith Jayne Copeland and Robert John Copeland; Twenty First Respondent: John Richard Ferling and Kevin Ferling; Twenty Second Respondent: Margaret Geary; Twenty Third Respondent: Stuart Frank Golden; Twenty Fourth Respondent: William Francis Hay; Twenty Fifth Respondent: Marjorie Joyce Johnston; Twenty Sixth Respondent: Kalbela Pty Ltd; Twenty Seventh Respondent: Leann Beverley Kallquist and Wayne James Kallquist; Twenty Eighth Respondent: Malcolm McIntyre; Twenty Ninth Respondent: David Thomas Poole and Douglas William Poole
Jurisdiction: Australia
Judgment Date: 22 January 2016
Procedural Posture: Native Title Determination Application / Hearing of Separate Questions Under R 30.01 of the Federal Court Rules 2011 (cth), Determination on Extinguishment Issues
Outcome: Questions answered affirmatively; acts constitute previous exclusive possession acts as defined; native title extinguished for relevant areas.
Legal Topics: Native Title – Extinguishment, Previous Exclusive Possession Acts, Validation of Past Acts, Presumption of Regularity, Public Road Dedication, Operation of S 109 Constitution, Retrospective Validation, Interaction of Native Title Act and Racial Discrimination Act

Native Title Native Title – Extinguishment Previous Exclusive Possession Acts Validation of Past Acts Presumption of Regularity Public Road Dedication Operation of S 109 Constitution Retrospective Validation +1 more

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Parties

Richard Doyle & Ors on behalf of the Iman People #2

Applicant

State of Queensland

First Respondent

Banana Shire Council

Second Respondent

Central Highlands Regional Council

Third Respondent

Maranoa Regional Council

Fourth Respondent

Western Downs Regional Council

Fifth Respondent

Ergon Energy Corporation Limited

Sixth Respondent

Telstra Corporation Limited

Seventh Respondent

Australia Pacific LNG Pty Limited

Eighth Respondent

Glencore Coal Queensland Pty Limited

Ninth Respondent

Jemena Queensland Gas Pipeline (1) Pty Ltd

Tenth Respondent

Jemena Queensland Gas Pipeline (2) Pty Ltd

Eleventh Respondent

Moonie Oil Pty Ltd

Twelfth Respondent

Santos QNT Pty Ltd

Thirteenth Respondent

Vamgas Pty Ltd

Fourteenth Respondent

Eion Evan Atkins and Brian John Atkins

Fifteenth Respondent

Avon Ross Hamilton, Carol Hamilton and Nathan Jay Hamilton

Sixteenth Respondent

Douglas R Baker, Tania M Baker and Tony P Baker

Seventeenth Respondent

Ronald Robert Baxter

Eighteenth Respondent

Hazel Thelma Bruggemann and Robin Allan Bruggemann

Nineteenth Respondent

Judith Jayne Copeland and Robert John Copeland

Twentieth Respondent

John Richard Ferling and Kevin Ferling

Twenty First Respondent

Margaret Geary

Twenty Second Respondent

Stuart Frank Golden

Twenty Third Respondent

William Francis Hay

Twenty Fourth Respondent

Marjorie Joyce Johnston

Twenty Fifth Respondent

Kalbela Pty Ltd

Twenty Sixth Respondent

Leann Beverley Kallquist and Wayne James Kallquist

Twenty Seventh Respondent

Malcolm McIntyre

Twenty Eighth Respondent

David Thomas Poole and Douglas William Poole

Twenty Ninth Respondent

Procedural Posture

Native Title Determination Application / Hearing of Separate Questions Under R 30.01 of the Federal Court Rules 2011 (cth), Determination on Extinguishment Issues

Legal Issues

1 Whether certain grants and conversions constitute previous exclusive possession acts within s 23B Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)
2 Whether land was duly dedicated and established as a public road under Land Act 1897 (Qld)
3 Effect of presumption of regularity regarding road declaration

Ratio Decidendi

Court Disposition

Questions answered affirmatively; acts constitute previous exclusive possession acts as defined; native title extinguished for relevant areas.

Orders

Each of the specified grants and conversions comprise previous exclusive possession acts within s 23B Native Title Act 1993 (Cth): (a) Grazing Homestead Perpetual Lease 36/7570, 36/7569, 36/7571 as per dates and lots specified; (b) conversion of Grazing Homestead Lease 40/1789 and Grazing Farm Lease 40/1824; (c)...