Risk v Northern Territory of Australia

• Jurisdiction: Australia Federal only
• Judgment Date: 05 April 2007
• Neutral Citation: [2007] FCAFC 46
• Court: Full Federal Court (Australia)

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Risk v Northern Territory of Australia [2007] FCAFC 46

NATIVE TITLE – Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) s 223(1) – rights and interests of claimant groups – whether possessed under traditional laws acknowledged and customs observed – whether traditional laws and customs discontinued – whether trial judge failed to consider relevant oral evidence in determining discontinuance – whether trial judge required to adopt findings of Aboriginal Land Commissioner – identification of laws and customs and composition of claimant group – whether trial judge failed to consider claim of alternative claimant group

Held: No error in trial judge’s treatment of evidence, or in conclusion that traditional laws and customs discontinued. Discretion not to adopt findings of Aboriginal Land Commissioner not miscarried. No failure to consider claim of alternative claimant group.

Members of the Yorta Yorta Aboriginal Community v Victoria (2002) 214 CLR 422 applied

Risk v Northern Territory of Australia [2006] FCA 404 affirmed

De Rose v South Australia (2003) 133 FCR 325 cited

De Rose v South Australia (No 2) (2005) 145 FCR 290 cited

Northern Territory v Alyawarr (2005) 145 FCR 442 cited

Sampi v Western Australia [2005] FCA 777 cited

Rubibi Community (No 5) v Western Australia [2005] FCA 1025 cited

Bennell v Western Australia [2006] FCA 1243 cited

Mifsud v Campbell (1991) 21 NSWLR 725, cited

Members of the Yorta Yorta Aboriginal Community v Victoria (2001) 110 FCR 244 applied

Western Australia v Ward (2002) 213 CLR 1 applied

Phillips v Western Australia [2000] FCA 1274 cited

Australian Coal and Shale Employees’ Federation v The Commonwealth (1953) 94 CLR 621 applied

Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) ss 84A, 86, 223

Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 55

Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth)

WILLIAM RISK, HELEN SECRETARY AND PAULINE BABAN ON BEHALF OF THE LARRAKIA PEOPLE v NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA AND DARWIN CITY COUNCIL AND ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

No NTD 5 of 2006

KEVIN LANCE QUALL ON BEHALF OF THE BATCHO FAMILIES, THE DANGGALABA CLAN AND THE KULUMBIRINGIN LANGUAGE GROUP/PEOPLE v NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA, DARWIN CITY COUNCIL, AMATEUR FISHERMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY, WILLIAM RISK, HELEN SECRETARY AND PAULINE BABAN ON BEHALF OF THE LARRAKIA PEOPLE, DEFENCE HOUSING AUTHORITY, PALMERSTON CITY COUNCIL, ANZ BANKING CORPORATION LTD, CONSERVATION LAND CORPORATION, CSR LIMITED, CSR READYMIX (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, DARWIN MODEL FLYING CLUB, DELFIN CHASE PTY LTD, DIAMOND LEISURE PTY LTD, GIUSEPPE MAUGERI, NORTHERN TERRITORY CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION, NT GAS DISTRIBUTION PTY LTD, NT GAS PTY LTD AND TELSTRA CORPORATION LTD AND ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

No NTD 6 of 2006

FRENCH, FINN AND SUNDBERG JJ

5 APRIL 2007

adelaide (heard in DARWIN)

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
NORTHERN TERRITORY DISTRICT REGISTRY	NTD 5 OF 2006

ON APPEAL FROM A SINGLE JUDGE OF THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

BETWEEN:	WILLIAM RISK, HELEN SECRETARY AND PAULINE BABAN ON BEHALF OF THE LARRAKIA PEOPLE Appellants
AND:	NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA First Respondent DARWIN CITY COUNCIL Second Respondent
AND:	ATTORNEY‑GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Intervener

JUDGES:	FRENCH, FINN AND SUNDBERG JJ
DATE OF ORDER:	5 APRIL 2007
WHERE MADE:	ADELAIDE (HEARD IN DARWIN)

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1. The appeal be dismissed.

2. Pursuant to s 84A(2) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) the Commonwealth pay the other parties’ costs of and incidental to the intervention.

Note: Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
NORTHERN TERRITORY DISTRICT REGISTRY	NTD 6 OF 2006

ON APPEAL FROM A SINGLE JUDGE OF THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

BETWEEN:	KEVIN LANCE QUALL ON BEHALF OF THE BATCHO FAMILIES, THE DANGGALABA CLAN AND THE KULUMBIRINGIN LANGUAGE GROUP/PEOPLE Appellant
AND:	NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA First Respondent DARWIN CITY COUNCIL Second Respondent AMATEUR FISHERMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY Sixth Respondent WILLIAM RISK, HELEN SECRETARY AND PAULINE BABAN ON BEHALF OF THE LARRAKIA PEOPLE Further Respondents DEFENCE HOUSING AUTHORITY, PALMERSTON CITY COUNCIL, ANZ BANKING CORPORATION LTD, CONSERVATION LAND CORPORATION, CSR LIMITED, CSR READYMIX (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, DARWIN MODEL FLYING CLUB, DELFIN CHASE PTY LTD, DIAMOND LEISURE PTY LTD, GIUSEPPE MAUGERI, NORTHERN TERRITORY CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION, NT GAS DISTRIBUTION PTY LTD, NT GAS PTY LTD AND TELSTRA CORPORATION LTD Other Respondents
AND:	ATTORNEY‑GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Intervener

JUDGES:	FRENCH, FINN AND SUNDBERG JJ
DATE OF ORDER:	5 april 2007
WHERE MADE:	ADELAIDE (HEARD IN DARWIN)

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1. The appeal be dismissed.

2. Pursuant to s 84A(2) of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) the Commonwealth pay the other parties’ costs of and incidental to the intervention.

Note: Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NORTHERN TERRITORY DISTRICT REGISTRY

ON APPEAL FROM A SINGLE JUDGE OF THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NTD 5 OF 2006

BETWEEN: WILLIAM RISK, HELEN SECRETARY AND PAULINE BABAN ON BEHALF OF THE LARRAKIA PEOPLE Appellants AND: NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA First Respondent DARWIN CITY COUNCIL Second Respondent AND: ATTORNEY‑GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Intervener

NTD 6 OF 2006
BETWEEN:	KEVIN LANCE QUALL ON BEHALF OF THE BATCHO FAMILIES, THE DANGGALABA CLAN AND THE KULUMBIRINGIN LANGUAGE GROUP/PEOPLE Appellant
AND:	NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA First Respondent DARWIN CITY COUNCIL Second Respondent AMATEUR FISHERMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY Sixth Respondent WILLIAM RISK, HELEN SECRETARY AND PAULINE BABAN ON BEHALF OF THE LARRAKIA PEOPLE Further Respondents DEFENCE HOUSING AUTHORITY, PALMERSTON CITY COUNCIL, ANZ BANKING CORPORATION LTD, CONSERVATION LAND CORPORATION, CSR LIMITED, CSR READYMIX (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, DARWIN MODEL FLYING CLUB, DELFIN CHASE PTY LTD, DIAMOND LEISURE PTY LTD, GIUSEPPE MAUGERI, NORTHERN TERRITORY CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION, NT GAS DISTRIBUTION PTY LTD, NT GAS PTY LTD AND TELSTRA CORPORATION LTD Other Respondents
AND:	ATTORNEY‑GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Intervener

JUDGES:	FRENCH, FINN AND SUNDBERG JJ
DATE:	5 APRIL 2007
PLACE:	ADELAIDE (HEARD IN DARWIN)

INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................... [1]

ATTORNEY‑GENERAL’S INTERVENTION......................................................................... [4]

THE LARRAKIA APPEAL...................................................................................................... [9]

Primary judge’s reasons.......................................................................................................... [9]

The three periods.............................................................................................................. [9]

Current Larrakia society................................................................................................ [15]

Primary judge’s conclusions.......................................................................................... [22]

Grounds of Appeal............................................................................................................... [25]

Failure to deal with the oral evidence..................................................................................... [26]

Misapplication of Yorta Yorta.............................................................................................. [73]

The book-end error......................................................................................................... [76]

Physical presence and exercise of rights........................................................................ [99]

Transmission of knowledge.......................................................................................... [105]

The Kenbi claim report....................................................................................................... [108]

THE QUALL APPEAL......................................................................................................... [115]

Background....................................................................................................................... [118]

The case advanced at trial................................................................................................... [120]

The native title determination applications.................................................................. [120]

The hearing and the evidence....................................................................................... [133]

Mr Quall’s oral submissions......................................................................................... [142]

Mr Quall’s written submission...................................................................................... [144]

Primary judge’s reasons...................................................................................................... [148]

The appeal on the case advanced........................................................................................ [157]

Consideration..................................................................................................................... [164]

The adequacy of his Honour’s reasons................................................................................ [180]

COSTS OF THE...