FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Budby on behalf of the Barada Barna People v State of Queensland [2013] FCA 1469

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1.    the applicants have leave to appeal in the terms of the notice of appeal;

2.    the costs of the application are reserved to the Full Court; and

3.    there be liberty to apply.

Note:    Entry of orders is dealt with in Rule 39.32 of the Federal Court Rules 2011.

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

1    I conclude that there is an arguable case on appeal in connection with the question of prospects of success on the material as it was before her Honour. I observe, with respect, that her Honour seems not to have, in her reasons at least, identified specifically any particular areas of weakness. In those circumstances, it is appropriate that the applicant have leave to appeal. As to the second ground, it appears that there are two possible approaches to be taken to the very lengthy delay which has been associated with this matter, although there is rather more to be said for the approach taken by the State than that taken by the applicant. Nonetheless, in those circumstances, I am willing to grant leave to appeal. There will be leave to appeal in terms of the draft notice of appeal. As to the question of a stay, the only prejudice to which the applicant points in connection with a stay is that it may lose priority attaching to its application for a native title determination. This is not relevant to the ultimate success or failure of the application. Rather it relates to the question of who may negotiate effectively with persons wishing to carry out activities in connection with the claim area, pending any final determination. As I understand it, other claim groups may file applications for native title determinations which may, to some extent, overlap on the claim area.

2    I do not propose to grant a stay in this case, firstly, because it is not yet clear that the possible prejudice to which I have referred will actually occur and secondly, because I am still very disturbed by the delay which has occurred in prosecuting the case. I have difficulty in resisting the inference that it has, to a substantial extent, been caused by the applicant and the applicant’s attitude to this litigation. In those circumstances, I decline to grant the stay. I reserve the costs of this application to the Full Court.

3    The question of a stay should not be taken as finally resolved. The appellant should consider any particular problems that arise in the event that another application is filed, or if something has to be done in connection with any other negotiations. In such a case, it can apply for a stay or other relief. I grant liberty to apply in that regard.

Associate:

Dated:    24 March 2014

SCHEDULE OF RESPONDENT PARTIES

Respondents:

Second Respondent:        CENTRAL HIGHLANDS REGIONAL COUNCIL

Third Respondent:        COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

Fourth Respondent:        ISAAC REGIONAL COUNCIL

Fifth Respondent:        MACKAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Sixth Respondent:        GRAHAM BELL

Seventh Respondent:        NORMAN ABRAHAM YURUNAG JOHNSON

Eighth Respondent:        NORTH QUEENSLAND LAND COUNCIL ABORIGINAL

                CORPORATION

Ninth Respondent:        NANCY RIEHL

Tenth Respondent:        AMANDA SAUNEY

Eleventh Respondent:        COLLEEN SAUNEY

Twelfth Respondent:        ERROL SAUNEY

Thirteenth Respondent:    JOANNE SAUNEY

Fourteenth Respondent:    JOSHUA SAUNEY

Fifteenth Respondent:        LANCE SAUNEY

Sixteenth Respondent:    LINDSAY SAUNEY

Seventeenth Respondent:    MAXINE SAUNEY

Eighteenth Respondent:    NIKITA SAUNEY

Nineteenth Respondent:    ROSS SAUNEY

Twentieth Respondent:    SHANE SAUNEY

Twenty First Respondent:    TONY SMALLWOOD

Twenty Second Respondent:    LINDA JOYCE WAILU

Twenty Third Respondent:    CELESTE WALSH

Twenty Fourth Respondent:    DALEY WHITE

Twenty Fifth Respondent:    DAMIAN WHITE

Twenty Sixth Respondent:    DANIEL WHITE

Twenty Seventh Respondent:    SAMANTHA WHITE

Twenty Eighth Respondent:    KATHLEEN WINDSOR

Twenty Ninth Respondent:    ERGON ENERGY CORPORATION LIMITED

Thirtieth Respondent:        TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED

Thirty First Respondent:    ANGLO COAL (GERMAN CREEK) PTY LTD

Thirty Second Respondent:    ANGLO COAL (GROSVENOR) PTY LTD

Thirty Third Respondent:    ARROW ENERGY LIMITED

Thirty Fourth Respondent:    BISTROTEL PTY LTD

Thirty Fifth Respondent:    BNG (SURAT) PTY LTD

Thirty Sixth Respondent:    BOWEN CENTRAL COAL PTY LTD

Thirty Seventh Respondent:    CAPCOAL MINE JOINT VENTURERS

Thirty Eighth Respondent:    CENTRAL QUEENSLAND PIPELINE PTY LTD

Thirty Ninth Respondent:    CH4 PTY LTD

Fortieth Respondent:        CHERWELL CREEK COAL PTY LTD

Forty First Respondent:    ENERGY MINERALS PTY LTD

Forty Second Respondent:    EXXARO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Forty Third Respondent:    MARUBENI COAL PTY LTD

Forty Fourth Respondent:    MATILDA COAL PTY LIMITED

Forty Fifth Respondent:    MIDDLEMOUNT COAL PTY LTD

Forty Sixth Respondent:    MORANBAH NORTH COAL PTY LTD

Forty Seventh Respondent:    MORANBAH NORTH MINE JOINT VENTURERS

Forty Eighth Respondent:    MORANBAH SOUTH JOINT VENTURERS

Forty Ninth Respondent:    NEBO CENTRAL COAL PTY LTD

Fiftieth Respondent:        NEW SOUTH OIL PTY LTD

Fifty First Respondent:    NIPPON STEEL AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED

Fifty Second Respondent:    NORTH QUEENSLAND PIPELINE NO 1 PTY LTD

Fifty Third Respondent:    NORTH QUEENSLAND PIPELINE NO 2 PTY LTD

Fifty Fourth Respondent:    OME RESOURCES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Fifty Fifth Respondent:    PEABODY BB INTERESTS PTY LTD

Fifty Sixth Respondent:    PEABODY COPPABELLA PTY LTD

Fifty Seventh Respondent:    PEABODY MOORVALE WEST PTY LTD

Fifty Eighth Respondent:    PEABODY WEST BURTON PTY LTD

Fifty Ninth Respondent:    PEABODY WEST WALKER PTY LTD

Sixtieth Respondent:        QUEENSLAND COAL PTY LIMITED

Sixty First Respondent:    RIBFIELD PTY LTD

Sixty Second Respondent:    SUMISHO COAL DEVELOPMENT QUEENSLAND

Sixty Third Respondent:    VALE AUSTRALIA (CQ) PTY LTD

Sixty Fourth Respondent:    VALE AUSTRALIA (IP) PTY LTD

Sixty Fifth Respondent:    VALE COAL EXPLORATION PTY LTD

Sixty Sixth Respondent:    WESTFIELD LTD

Sixty Seventh Respondent:    ARDAY PTY LTD

Sixty Eighth Respondent:    JOHN THOMAS BAKER

Sixty Ninth Respondent:    MARNIE LOUISE BAKER

Seventieth Respondent:    ANTHONY JOHN BELLA

Seventy First Respondent:    EDWARD MARTIN BELLA

Seventy Second Respondent:    MARTIN JOSEPH BELLA

Seventy Third Respondent:    PETER ANDREW BELLA

Seventy Fourth Respondent:    REGENA FRANCES, BELLA

Seventy Fifth Respondent:    ROBERT JAMES BELLA

Seventy Sixth Respondent:    STEPHEN EDWARD BELLA

Seventy Seventh Respondent:    ROBERT JOHN BORG

Seventy Eighth Respondent:    HAROLD GEORGE BRADFORD

Seventy Ninth Respondent:    RUTH BRADFORD

Eightieth Respondent:    LAWRENCE PAUL DANASTAS

Eighty First Respondent:    MARION CARMEL DANASTAS

Eighty Second Respondent:    KATHRYN HEAD

Eighty Third Respondent:    THOMPSON HEAD

Eighty Fourth Respondent:    RAYE MARILYN O'SULLIVAN

Eighty Fifth Respondent:    ROBERT ALAN O'SULLIVAN

Eighty Sixth Respondent:    STEPHEN MICHAEL PETTS

Eighty Seventh Respondent:    WAYNE HOWARD PETTS

Eighty Eighth Respondent:    CRAIGIE ROSS

Eighty Ninth Respondent:    GRAHAM ROSS

Ninetieth Respondent:    KIM FRANCES WILLOUGHBY