The Federal Court has dismissed an application by Kimberley gas hub opponent Joseph Roe to appeal a court ruling appointing replacements for him as a native title claim applicant.
A court ruling on the matter in February cleared the way for traditional land claimants to resume negotiations over a $30 billion gas hub north of Broome.
That ruling by Justice John Gilmour replaced Mr Roe as a legal applicant on behalf of claimants and replaced him with other nominated applicants, in line with a native title claim group application to the court.
Mr Roe had sought to prevent the Kimberley Land Council (KLC) from representing native title claimants in negotiations over the proposed gas precinct to be built by a Woodside Petroleum-led consortium.
The Goolarabooloo man opposes the liquefied natural gas plant being built at James Price Point, citing it as an important sacred area and crossing point of songlines.
In the Federal Court in Perth on Friday, Justice Antony Siopis dismissed the application by Mr Roe to appeal against the February ruling.
He found against Mr Roe's contention that the replacement applicants would have a conflict of interest and be unable to fairly represent a combined Goolarabooloo/Jabirr Jabirr claim, of which he was a part.
The long-running legal dispute between Mr Roe and the KLC last year prompted WA Premier Colin Barnett to move to compulsorily acquire the James Price Point site, a move that angered native title claimants.
The KLC had signed a heads of agreement in April 2009 with Woodside and the WA government approving the gas hub and $1.5 billion in benefits to flow to indigenous communities over 30 years.
Talks between the parties have since sought to get an agreement by consent back on track and meetings in Perth this week aimed to resolve outstanding issues.
The Federal Court has dismissed an application by Kimberley gas hub opponent Joseph Roe to appeal a court ruling appointing replacements for him as a native title claim applicant.
A court ruling on the matter in February cleared the way for traditional land claimants to resume negotiations over a $30 billion gas hub north of Broome.
That ruling by Justice John Gilmour replaced Mr Roe as a legal applicant on behalf of claimants and replaced him with other nominated applicants, in line with a native title claim group application to the court.
Mr Roe had sought to prevent the Kimberley Land Council (KLC) from representing native title claimants in negotiations over the proposed gas precinct to be built by a Woodside Petroleum-led consortium.
The Goolarabooloo man opposes the liquefied natural gas plant being built at James Price Point, citing it as an important sacred area and crossing point of songlines.
In the Federal Court in Perth on Friday, Justice Antony Siopis dismissed the application by Mr Roe to appeal against the February ruling.
He found against Mr Roe's contention that the replacement applicants would have a conflict of interest and be unable to fairly represent a combined Goolarabooloo/Jabirr Jabirr claim, of which he was a part.
The long-running legal dispute between Mr Roe and the KLC last year prompted WA Premier Colin Barnett to move to compulsorily acquire the James Price Point site, a move that angered native title claimants.
The KLC had signed a heads of agreement in April 2009 with Woodside and the WA government approving the gas hub and $1.5 billion in benefits to flow to indigenous communities over 30 years.
Talks between the parties have since sought to get an agreement by consent back on track and meetings in Perth this week aimed to resolve outstanding issues.
A meeting of Goolarabooloo and Jabirr Jabirr people in Broome next week is expected to formally vote on an agreement for the gas hub.
Photo Damian Kelly
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