Foster on behalf of the Jalajirrpa, Kunapa and Pirrtangu Groups v Northern Territory of Australia (Banka Banka East Pastoral Lease Proceeding) [2020] FCA 1548

Binomial Name: Federal Court of Australia
Date: 28 October 2020
Sub Category:Consent Determination (Native Title Act)
Place:

North of Tennant Creek

State/Country:Northern Territory, Australia
The determination area is approximately 1901 square km located north of Tennant Creek and south of Junction Reserve. For a detailed description of the area and maps see Schedule A and Schedule B of the determination, attached below under documents. The area is within the jurisdiction of the Barkly Region Council.
Legal Status:

Registered with the National Native Title Tribunal.

Legal Reference: Federal Court file no.: NTD6005/2001, NTD60/2017; National Native Title Tribunal file no.: DCD2020/005
Alternative Names:
  • Banka Banka East Pastoral Lease Proceeding
  • Subject Matter:Native Title
    URL: http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FCA/2020/1548.html?context=1;query=FOSTER%20ON%20BEHALF%20OF;mask_path=au/cases/cth/FCA
    Summary Information:

    Between:

    Tony Foster and Others on behalf of the Jalajirrpa, Kunapa and Pirrtangu Groups (First Applicant)

    Archie Allen and Others on behalf of the Kunapa, Kurtinja and Mangirriji Groups (Second Applicant)

    and Northern Territory of Australia (Respondent)

    Judge: White J

    Determination

    Native title exists in part of the determination area 

    That being the land and waters subject to Perpetual Pastoral Lease No. 1204, excepting those parts of the determination area covered by public works as defined in s 253 of Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (the NTA') (including adjacent land or waters as defined in s 251D of the NTA) which were constructed, established or situated prior to 23 December 1996 or commenced to be constructed or established on or before that date, including but not limited to:

    • public roads, whether rural roads, arterial roads or national highways; 
    • community and pastoral access roads which are not otherwise public roads;
    • gravel pits adjacent to the roads referred to at paragraphs (a) and (b) hereof used to maintain those roads;
    • access roads or tracks to the public works referred to in this clause;
    • Government bores and associated infrastructure including bores used for the establishment, operation or maintenance of public and other roads;
    • river and rain gauges;
    • transmission and distribution water pipes and associated infrastructure;
    • sewer pipes, sewer pump stations and associated infrastructure; and
    • electricity transmission lines, towers, poles and associated infrastructure. 

    Native title holders

    The groups that have native title rights and interests in respect of the determination Area are:

    • the Jalajirrpa estate group;
    • the Kunapa estate group; and
    • the Pirrtangu estate group.

    Other Aboriginal people also have native title rights and interests in respect of the determination area, subject to the native title rights and interests of the estate group members, such people being: 

    • members of estate groups from neighbouring estates; and 
    • spouses of the estate group members. 

    The neighbouring estate groups referred to above include persons who are members of the group by reason of: 

    • patrilineal descent;
    • his or her mother, father’s mother or mother’s mother being or having been a member of the group by reason of patrilineal descent; or 
    • having been adopted or incorporated into the descent relationships referred to in (a) or (b) above. 

    Non-exclusive native title rights and interests over all of the determination area except for the areas excluded (see Schedule D).

    These rights exist over the area described in Schedule C.  The Jalajirrpa, Kunapa and the Pirrtangu estate groups have the right: 

    • to access, remain on and use the areas
    • to access and to take for any purpose the resources of the areas; and 
    • to protect places, areas and things of traditional significance. 

    Other Aboriginal people and neighbouring estate groups described above also have the right:

    • to access, remain on and use the areas; and 
    • to access the resources of the areas. 

    Other rights and interests in the determination area, created by the Crown or otherwise, include:

    • the rights and interests of the holder of Perpetual Pastoral Lease No. 1204, in relation to NT portion 7049;
    • the rights of Aboriginal persons (whether or not native title holders) pursuant to the reservation in favour of Aboriginal peoples in Perpetual Pastoral Lease No. 1204 made by s 38 of the Pastoral Land Act 1992 (NT);
    • the rights of Aboriginal persons (whether or not native title holders) pursuant to the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1989 (NT);
    • rights of access by an employee, servant, agent or instrumentality of the Northern Territory or Commonwealth, or other statutory authority as required in the performance of statutory duties;
    • the rights to water lawfully captured by the holders of other interests;
    • the rights and interests of persons to whom valid and validated rights and interests have been granted by the Crown pursuant to statute, in the exercise of executive power, or otherwise conferred by statute;
    • the rights and interests of the holders of the following titles granted under the Mineral Titles Act 2010 (NT) and the Petroleum Act 1984 (NT), depicted in Schedule E: >Exploration Permit Title No. 169 granted on 4 April 2013; and Exploration Licence Title No. 31665 granted on 3 August 2017.  

    In the case of conflict, the exercise of non-native title rights and interests will prevail over the non-exclusive native title

    The Top End (Default PBC/CLA) Aboriginal Corporation Registered Native Title Body Corporate (RNTBC) is the prescribed body corporate. It performs the functions required under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) and acts as agent for the Pirrtangu estate groups.

    Full text of the determination is available via the URL link above.

    Detailed Information:

    Background  

    The applications form part of a group know as the 'Banka Banka Group'. The group included applications for native title determinations over Banka Banka East, Banka Banka West, Powell Creek and Helen Springs Pastoral Leases [8]. 

    The determination was made on two underlying applications for the determination of native title [2].

    The principal application was made by the first applicant in December 2017 which covered all of the land and waters in the Banka Banka East Pastoral Lease [3].

    An earlier application for a part of the area in Banka Banka East Pastoral Lease was made by the second applicant in 2001 [4]. This part being subject to future act notices under s 29 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) [4]. In August 2020, the Court ordered that the 2017 application and 2001 application were to be dealt with together [5]. Consequently, the determination will resolve the 2017 application for the entire area covered and the 2001 application in part only. 

    Details of Judgment

    An agreement was made in recognition of the native title rights and interests held by Jalajirrpa, Kunapa, Pirrtangu, Kurtinja and Mangirriji Groups in relation to the Banka Banka East Pastoral Lease Proceeding. Pursuant to ss 87 and 87A of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) agreement was filed in the Federal Court.

    Both ss 87(1A) and 87A(4) require the Court to be satisfied that it is appropriate to make the proposed determination. Given the rigorous assessment by the Northern Territory of the materials provided by the applicant the court is satisfied that Northern Territory based their consent on a sound rational basis [30]. The Court recognised that the proposed native title rights are of a kind that are recognised by the court in other determinations [31]. There is no indication to suggest that throughout the course of negotiations all parties to the agreement did not have independent legal representation [37]. The Court found no circumstances under which making the determination in accordance with the proposed terms would be inappropriate [36]. The Court was satisfied it was appropriate to give effect to the parties' agreement in recognition of the native title rights and interests of the estate groups [40-41].

    Outcomes:

    Native title exists in parts of the determination area.


    Related Entries

  • Henderson on behalf of the Bamayu (Wurwanawanji-Yarrayarra), Bamayu (Titirlku), Marlinja, Ngapa Jangirlu, Walanypirri and Wilyuku Groups v Northern Territory of Australia (Powell Creek Pastoral Lease Proceeding) [2020] FCA 1550
  • Morrison on behalf of Kunapa, Kangawarla, Kanturrpa, Marntikara, Ngarrka and Pirrtangu Groups v Northern Territory of Australia (Banka Banka West Pastoral Lease Proceeding) [2020] FCA 1549
  • Foster on behalf of the Kanturrpa, Ngapa, Pirrtangu, Walanyja, Walanypirri, Warranangku and Wirntiku Groups v Northern Territory of Australia (Helen Springs Pastoral Lease Proceeding) [2020] FCA 1551
  • Organisation
  • National Native Title Tribunal
  • Barkly Regional Council
  • Northern Territory of Australia - Respondent
  • Top End (Default PBC/CLA) Aboriginal Corporations RNTBC
  • Legislation
  • Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)
  • Native Title Amendment Act 1998 (Cth)
  • Native Title (Indigenous Land Use Agreements) Regulations 1999 (Cth)
  • Mineral Titles Act 2010 (NT)
  • Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1989 (NT)
  • Pastoral Land Act 1992 (NT)
  • Minerals (Acquisition) Act (NT)
  • Petroleum Act 1984 (NT)
  • Atomic Energy Act 1953 (Cth)
  • Atomic Energy (Control of Materials) Act 1946 (Cth)
  • People
  • Jalajirrpa, Kunapa, Pirrtangu, Kurtinja and Mangirriji Groups - Native Title Claimant
  • Archie Allen and others on behalf of the Kunapa, Kurtinja and Mangirriji Peoples - Native Title Applicant
  • Tony Foster and others on behalf of Jalajirrpa, Kunapa and Pirrtangu Groups - Native Title Applicant

  • Documents

    Document
    Extract from National Native Title Register for DCD2020/005 as at 28 October 2020 (Banka Banka East Pastoral Lease Proceeding) - ( PDF | PDF | PDF | PDF | PDF | PDF)

    Glossary

    Native Title (Australia) | National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) (Australia) | Native Title Registers | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Australia) | Applicant | Respondent | Consent Determination (Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)) (Australia) | Aboriginal Corporation (Australia) | Native Title Applicants | Native Title Holders (Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)) (Australia) | Native Title Representative Body (NTRB) (Australia)