Fortescue Metals Group v Warrie on behalf of the Yindjibarndi People

• Jurisdiction: Australia Federal only
• Judgment Date: 18 October 2019
• Neutral Citation: [2019] FCAFC 177
• Date: 18 October 2019
• Court: Full Federal Court (Australia)

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Fortescue Metals Group v Warrie on behalf of the Yindjibarndi People [2019] FCAFC 177

Appeal from:	Warrie (formerly TJ) (on behalf of the Yindjibarni People) v State of Western Australia [2017] FCA 803 Warrie (formerly TJ) (on behalf of the Yindjibarndi People) v State of Western Australia (No 2) [2017] FCA 1299
File number:	WAD 611 of 2017
Judges:	JAGOT, ROBERTSON, GRIFFITHS, MORTIMER AND WHITE JJ
Date of judgment:	18 October 2019
Catchwords:	NATIVE TITLE – abuse of process – potential inconsistency between determinations of native title – where primary judge recognised exclusive native title rights and interests held by claim group over area comprising part of Yindjibarndi country – where earlier determination in Moses v Western Australia [2007] FCAFC 78; (2007) 160 FCR 148 recognised only non-exclusive native title rights and interests over another part of Yindjibarndi country – s 13 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (NTA) – no abuse of process ; NATIVE TITLE – determination of exclusive native title rights – whether primary judge erred in relying on findings concerning adverse spiritual consequences for strangers entering onto the claim area without permission supported a determination of exclusive native title rights – whether the primary judge was correct to find that the Yindjibarndi had continued to observe the traditional law and custom concerning permission to enter country from sovereignty to the present day – whether Griffiths v Northern Territory [2007] FCAFC 178; 165 FCR 391 and Banjima People v Western Australia [2015] FCAFC 84; 231 FCR 456 were correctly decided ; NATIVE TITLE – the meaning of “occupy” in s 46B(1)(c) of the NTA – whether the primary judge erred in finding that at least one or more members of the claim group occupied two parts of the claim area at the time the application for determination of native title was lodged – appeal dismissed, with costs
Legislation:	Federal Court of Australia Act 1975 (Cth) ss 21 and 37M Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) ss 3, 4, 10, 11, 13, 81, 86, 47A, 47B, 61, 86, 207A, 221, 223 and 225 Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) r 39.05 Native Title (Prescribed Bodies Corporate) Regulations 1999 (Cth) Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) s 36 Iron Ore (Mount Goldsworthy) Agreement Act 1964 (WA) s 4
Cases cited:	AB v Western Australia (No 4) [2012] FCA 1268; 300 ALR 193 AEK15 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2016] FCAFC 131; 244 FCR 328 Arnold v National Westminster Bank PLC [1991] 2 AC 93; 3 All ER 41 Ashraf v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2018] FCAFC 50 Attorney-General v Helicopter-Tjungarrayi (Ngurra Kayanta & Ngurra Kayanta #2) [2018] FCAFC 35; 359 ALR 256 Banjima People v State of Western Australia [2015] FCAFC 84; 231 FCR 456 Batistatos v Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) [2006] HCA 27; 226 CLR 256 BHP Billiton Nickel West Pty Ltd v KN (Deceased) [2018] FCAFC 8; 258 FCR 521 Branir Pty Ltd v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1833; 117 FCR 424 Campbells Cash and Carry Pty Ltd v Fostif Pty Limited [2006] HCA 41; 229 CLR 386 Coffey v Secretary, Department of Social Security [1999] FCA 375; 86 FCR 434 Commissioner of Land Tax v Christie [1973] 2 NSWLR 526 Commonwealth v Yarmirr [2001] HCA 56; 208 CLR 1 Council of the City of Newcastle v Royal Newcastle Hospital (1957) 96 CLR 493 Council of the City of Newcastle v Royal Newcastle Hospital (1959) 100 CLR 1; [1959] AC 248 D’Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid [2005] HCA 12; 223 CLR 1 Dale v Western Australia [2011] FCAFC 46; 191 FCR 521 Daniel v State of Western Australia [2003] FCA 666 Daniel v State of Western Australia [2005] FCA 536 Daruk Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (1993) 30 NSWLR 140 Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472 Engineers’ Case [1920] HCA 54; 28 CLR 129 Fejo v Northern Territory [1998] HCA 58; 195 CLR 96 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; 214 CLR 118 Ghosh v NineMSN Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 334; 90 NSWLR 595 Griffiths v Northern Territory [2006] FCA 903; 165 FCR 300 Griffiths v Northern Territory [2007] FCAFC 178; 165 FCR 391 Gumana v Northern Territory of Australia [2005] FCA 50; 141 FCR 457 Hayes v Northern Territory [1999] FCA 1248; 97 FCR 32 Hayes on behalf of the Thalanyji People v State of Western Australia [2008] FCA 1487 Henwood v Northern Territory of Australia [2017] FCAFC 182 Jeffery & Katauskas Pty Limited v SST Consulting Pty Ltd [2009] HCA 43; 239 CLR 75 Johnson v Gore Wood & Co [2002] 2 AC 1; 1 All ER 481 Lake Torrens Overlap Proceeding (No 3) [2016] FCA 899 Mabo v Queensland (No 2) [1992] HCA 23; 175 CLR 1 Members of the Yorta Yorta Aboriginal Community v Victoria [2002] HCA 58; 214 CLR 422 Minister Administering Crown Lands Act v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council [2008] HCA 48; 237 CLR 285 Minister Administering the Crown Lands (Consolidation) Act v Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council (1992) 75 LGRA 133 Moses v Western Australia [2007] FCAFC 78; 160 FCR 148 Munn v State of Queensland [2002] FCA 486 Narrier v State of Western Australia [2016] FCA 1519 Narrier v State of Western Australia (No 2) [2017] FCA 104 Neowarra v Western Australia [2003] FCA 1402 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2016] HCA 50; 260 CLR 232 North Ganalanja Aboriginal Corporation v Queensland [1996] HCA 2; 185 CLR 595 Northern Territory of Australia v Alyawarr, Kaytetye, Warumungu, Wakaya Native Title Claim Group [2005] FCAFC 135; 145 FCR 442 Northern Territory of Australia v Griffiths [2008] HCATrans 123 Northern Territory v Griffiths [2019] HCA 7; 364 ALR 208 O’Toole v Charles David Pty Ltd [1990] HCA 44; (1991) 171 CLR 232 PNJ v The Queen [2009] HCA 6; 252 ALR 612 Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd [1981] HCA 45; 147 CLR 589 Quall v Northern Territory of Australia [2009] FCA 18 R v Inhabitants of St Nicholas, Rochester (1833) 5 B & Ad 219; 110 ER 773 Ridgeway v The Queen [1995] HCA 66; 184 CLR 19 Risk v Northern Territory of Australia [2006] FCA 404 Rozenblit v Vainer [2018] HCA 23; 262 CLR 478 Rubibi Community v Western Australia (No 6) [2006] FCA 82; 226 ALR 676 Rubibi Community v State of Western Australia (No 7) [2006] FCA 459 Sac and Fox Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma v United States 383 F. 2d 991, (1967) Sandy on behalf of the Yugara People v State of Queensland [2017] FCAFC 108; 254 FCR 107 Singh v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2016] FCAFC 141; 247 FCR 554 Spalla v St George Motor Finance Ltd (No 6) [2004] FCA 1699 Starkey v South Australia [2018] FCAFC 36; 261 FCR 183 State Bank of New South Wales v Stenhouse (1997) Aust Torts Rep 81-423 State of Victoria v Commonwealth of Australia (the Pay-roll tax Case) [1971] HCA 16; 122 CLR 353 Tomlinson v Ramsey Food Processing [2015] HCA 28; 256 CLR 507 Tyne v UBS AG (No 2) [2017] FCAFC 5; 250 FCR 341 UBS AG v Tyne [2018] HCA 45; 360 ALR 184 ...