Blair v First Nations Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng, Taribelang Bunda People Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC [2022] FCA 1520

Blair v First Nations Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng, Taribelang Bunda People Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC [2022] FCA 1520

The applicants established a serious question to be tried regarding the directors’ obligations to promptly consider and admit eligible membership applications under s 144-10(3A) CATSI Act. The balance of convenience favoured the grant of a limited interim injunction to prevent the first respondent from considering or passing the proposed special resolution to amend the Rule Book because, absent this relief, the applicants could be irreparably prejudiced by being excluded from voting on structural changes that could restrict their future membership and participation rights. The injunction was limited to the relevant SGM and resolution, not broader consultation meetings.

Parties
Applicant: Veronica Cheryl Blair; Applicant: Janelle Ruth Evans; Applicant: Fiona Richardson; Applicant: Estelle Fisher; Applicant: Felicity Fisher; Applicant: Lynette Skeen; Applicant: William Munns; Applicant: Beverley Leisha; Applicant: Roger Leisha; Applicant: Elaine Fisher; Applicant: Robert Gulf; Applicant: Christell Jarrett; Applicant: Wagwan Savage; Applicant: Anthony Jarrett; Applicant: William Charles Gulf; Applicant: Wallebi Kuvindabar; Applicant: Delphine Cecilia Joyce Williams; Applicant: Rachel Amelia Kemp; Applicant: Stewart Maurice Smith; Applicant: Nigel Smith; Applicant: Emma Smith; Applicant: Lydia Smith; Applicant: Ethan Cecil Keith Smith; Applicant: Stewart Smith; Applicant: Dorothy Else Kemp; Applicant: Allira Mamie Grant; Applicant: Miriam Grace Tilberoo; Applicant: Loretta Miller; Applicant: Jeffrey Accoom; Applicant: Lynette Murphy; Applicant: Karen Murphy; Applicant: Crystal Ross; Applicant: Ida Lammermooor; Applicant: Keenan Richardson; Applicant: Steven Grant Silvester; Applicant: Reginald Roe; Applicant: Ida Rose Lammermoor; Applicant: Stephen Joseph McDonald; Applicant: Mary-Ann Millicent Lammermooor; Applicant: Julianne Winnifred Ingra; Applicant: Phillip Keith Lammermooor; Applicant: Katherine Murphy; Applicant: Yasmine Murphy; Applicant: Neola Savage; Applicant: Kenneth Michael Thompson; First Respondent: First Nations Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng, Taribelang Bunda People Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC ICN8650; Second Respondent: Kerry Blackman; Third Respondent: Shayne Blackman; Other: Registrar Grant; Fourth Respondent: Matthew Wayne Cooke; Fifth Respondent: Miss Lee-Ann Dudley; Sixth Respondent: Marcia Morris; Seventh Respondent: Kristin Sarra; Eighth Respondent: Christopher Thiesfield; Ninth Respondent: Norelle Watson
Jurisdiction
Australia
Judgment Date
14 December 2022
Procedural Posture
Interlocutory Application – Injunction / Interim Interlocutory Injunction (before Trial of Main Proceeding)
Outcome
Interim interlocutory injunction granted, leave to amend originating process granted, costs to applicants.
Legal Topics
Injunctions, Membership of Aboriginal Corporations, CATSI Act Compliance, Native Title Act Compliance, Procedural Fairness
Native Title Corporations Law Injunctions Membership of Aboriginal Corporations CATSI Act Compliance Native Title Act Compliance Procedural Fairness

Case Brief

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Parties

Veronica Cheryl Blair

Applicant

Janelle Ruth Evans

Applicant

Fiona Richardson

Applicant

Estelle Fisher

Applicant

Felicity Fisher

Applicant

Lynette Skeen

Applicant

William Munns

Applicant

Beverley Leisha

Applicant

Roger Leisha

Applicant

Elaine Fisher

Applicant

Robert Gulf

Applicant

Christell Jarrett

Applicant

Wagwan Savage

Applicant

Anthony Jarrett

Applicant

William Charles Gulf

Applicant

Wallebi Kuvindabar

Applicant

Delphine Cecilia Joyce Williams

Applicant

Rachel Amelia Kemp

Applicant

Stewart Maurice Smith

Applicant

Nigel Smith

Applicant

Emma Smith

Applicant

Lydia Smith

Applicant

Ethan Cecil Keith Smith

Applicant

Stewart Smith

Applicant

Dorothy Else Kemp

Applicant

Allira Mamie Grant

Applicant

Miriam Grace Tilberoo

Applicant

Loretta Miller

Applicant

Jeffrey Accoom

Applicant

Lynette Murphy

Applicant

Karen Murphy

Applicant

Crystal Ross

Applicant

Ida Lammermooor

Applicant

Keenan Richardson

Applicant

Steven Grant Silvester

Applicant

Reginald Roe

Applicant

Ida Rose Lammermoor

Applicant

Stephen Joseph McDonald

Applicant

Mary-Ann Millicent Lammermooor

Applicant

Julianne Winnifred Ingra

Applicant

Phillip Keith Lammermooor

Applicant

Katherine Murphy

Applicant

Yasmine Murphy

Applicant

Neola Savage

Applicant

Kenneth Michael Thompson

Applicant

First Nations Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng, Taribelang Bunda People Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC ICN8650

First Respondent

Kerry Blackman

Second Respondent

Shayne Blackman

Third Respondent

Registrar Grant

Other

Matthew Wayne Cooke

Fourth Respondent

Miss Lee-Ann Dudley

Fifth Respondent

Marcia Morris

Sixth Respondent

Kristin Sarra

Seventh Respondent

Christopher Thiesfield

Eighth Respondent

Norelle Watson

Ninth Respondent

Procedural Posture

Interlocutory Application – Injunction / Interim Interlocutory Injunction (before Trial of Main Proceeding)

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether an urgent interlocutory injunction should restrain the first respondent from considering resolutions to amend its Rule Book affecting members' rights before applications for membership are determined
  2. 2 Whether the first respondent's proposed amendments to its Rule Book are necessary to comply with the amended Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth) and Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)
  3. 3 Whether the directors of the first respondent have complied with their statutory duties in considering membership applications

Ratio Decidendi

The applicants established a serious question to be tried regarding the directors’ obligations to promptly consider and admit eligible membership applications under s 144-10(3A) CATSI Act. The balance of convenience favoured the grant of a limited interim injunction to prevent the first respondent from considering or passing the proposed special resolution to amend the Rule Book because, absent this relief, the applicants could be irreparably prejudiced by being excluded from voting on structural changes that could restrict their future membership and participation rights. The injunction was limited to the relevant SGM and resolution, not broader consultation meetings.

Court Disposition

Interim interlocutory injunction granted, leave to amend originating process granted, costs to applicants.

Orders

  • Leave granted to the applicants to file an amended originating application seeking final relief in the form of an injunction restraining the first respondent from considering or passing the resolution in the notice for the 18 December 2022 Special General Meeting until after judgment or further order.
  • An interim injunction restraining the first respondent from considering or passing the resolution in the Special General Meeting notice until after judgment or further order.