Source: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2017C00149
Timestamp: 2020-01-20 12:19:10
Document Index: 728212774

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 6']

Details: F2017C00149
- F2017C00149
Guides & Guidelines as amended, taking into account amendments up to Native Title (Assistance from Attorney-General) Amendment Guidelines 2016
Native Title (Assistance from Attorney-General) Amendment Guidelines 2016 - F2016L01775
Registered 01 Mar 2017
F2017C00149
Part 3—Application process
Part 4—Applications for assistance relating to legal representation and disbursements
Part 5—Review
Part 5A—Applications for assistance under the Native Title Officer Funding Scheme
Native Title (Assistance from Attorney‑General) Guidelines 2012
Includes amendments up to: F2016L01775
Registered: 1 March 2017
This is a compilation of the Native Title (Assistance from Attorney-General) Guidelines 2012 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 1 March 2017 (the compilation date).
1.1......... Name............................................................................................................................. 1
1.2......... Purpose......................................................................................................................... 1
2.1......... Definitions..................................................................................................................... 2
2.2......... Meaning of disbursements............................................................................................ 4
2.3......... Excluded costs............................................................................................................... 4
Part 3—Application process 5
3.1......... Application must be in accordance with Part 3.............................................................. 5
3.2......... Application requirements............................................................................................... 5
3.3......... What is a complete application?..................................................................................... 5
3.4......... Request for further information..................................................................................... 6
3.5......... Consent to obtaining, disclosing and using further information.................................... 6
3.6......... Responsibilities of applicants........................................................................................ 6
Part 4—Applications for assistance relating to legal representation and disbursements 7
4.1......... Making a decision on an application.............................................................................. 7
4.2......... No assistance for retrospective costs............................................................................. 7
4.3......... Notice of decision.......................................................................................................... 8
Division 2—Interest of applicant 9
4.4......... Interests for which assistance is not to be granted......................................................... 9
Division 3—Assistance for disbursements 10
4.5......... Matters to be considered—assistance for disbursements............................................. 10
Division 4—Assistance for legal representation 11
4.6......... Matters to be considered—assistance for legal representation..................................... 11
Division 5—Matters to be taken into consideration 13
Subdivision A—Applicant considerations 13
4.8......... What are the applicant considerations?........................................................................ 13
4.9......... Who is a financially‑associated entity?........................................................................ 13
4.10....... Additional applicant considerations for entities other than individuals........................ 13
4.11....... What is income?.......................................................................................................... 14
4.12....... What are assets?.......................................................................................................... 14
4.13....... What are liabilities?...................................................................................................... 14
4.14....... What are expenses?..................................................................................................... 14
Subdivision B—What are the legal considerations? 15
4.15....... What are the legal considerations?............................................................................... 15
Part 5—Review 16
5.1......... Review of decisions.................................................................................................... 16
Part 5A—Applications for assistance under the Native Title Officer Funding Scheme 17
5A.1...... Making a decision on an application............................................................................ 17
5A.2...... No assistance for retrospective costs........................................................................... 17
5A.3...... No assistance for administrative costs etc.................................................................... 18
5A.4...... Notice of decision........................................................................................................ 18
Division 2—Interests of respondents 19
5A.5...... Interests for which assistance is not to be granted....................................................... 19
Division 3—Native Title Officer Funding Scheme 20
5A.6...... Matters to be considered.............................................................................................. 20
These guidelines are the Native Title (Assistance from Attorney‑General) Guidelines 2012.
These guidelines are to be applied in authorising the provision of assistance under section 213A of the Act.
Note: Section 213A of the Act allows certain persons to apply to the Attorney‑General for legal or financial assistance in relation to certain inquiries, mediations, agreements, or disputes, or in relation to the development or review of certain standard form agreements. Subsection 213A(5) of the Act provides that the Attorney‑General may make guidelines that are to be applied in authorising the provision of the assistance.
(a) in relation to an application for assistance relating to legal representation or disbursements—means an entity or group that applies for assistance, or on whose behalf an application for assistance is made, under section 213A of the Act; and
(b) in relation to an application for assistance under the Native Title Officer Funding Scheme—means a peak body or other organisation that employs, or is seeking to employ, a person as a native title officer to assist respondents to resolve native title claims.
Note: The document is available at: www.ag.gov.au.
decision maker means the Attorney‑General or a person delegated by the Attorney‑General to authorise the provision of assistance under section 213A of the Act.
financially‑associated entity: see section 4.9.
Native Title Officer Funding Scheme means the scheme under which an amount is available, up to a maximum amount each financial year, to fund a peak industry body or organisation to employ persons, known as native title officers, to:
(a) educate peak industry bodies or organisations about native title issues; and
(b) facilitate grouping of respondents in claim areas; and
(c) coordinate instructions to legal representatives in legal action;
so as to facilitate efficient and effective resolution of native title claims.
(1) In these guidelines, disbursements:
In these guidelines, a cost is an excluded cost if it is any of the following:
Note: Subsections 213A(1), (2) and (3) of the Act set out who may apply for the provision of assistance.
(2) However, the decision maker may authorise the provision of assistance under Part 4 to an applicant whose application is not made in accordance with this Part if there are exceptional circumstances that justify authorising the provision of the assistance.
3‑5 National Circuit
(ba) if the application is for assistance under the Native Title Officer Funding Scheme—submitted between 1 April and 30 April in the financial year before the financial year to which the assistance relates; and
Note: Forms are available at: www.ag.gov.au.
(f) the availability of funds, in any given year, under the appropriation for assistance from the Attorney‑General;
(g) the number and relative merits of other applications for grants made under the appropriation for assistance from the Attorney‑General;
(h) the number and relative merits of grants likely to be made under the appropriation for assistance from the Attorney‑General;
(5) The decision maker may authorise the provision of assistance for disbursements or legal representation to an applicant who does not meet the requirements of this Part only if:
(a) the decision to authorise the provision of the assistance is reasonable; and
(b) there are exceptional circumstances.
Division 2—Interest of applicant
Division 3—Assistance for disbursements
Note: Division 4 sets out the considerations for the provision of assistance for legal representation.
(2) If subsection 213A(1) of the Act applies to the applicant, the decision maker must consider the applicant considerations unless the applicant is a group.
Note: The applicant considerations are dealt with in Division 5.
(3) If subsection 213A(2) of the Act applies to the applicant and the application is for assistance with negotiating an ILUA or an agreement about rights conferred under subsection 44B(1) of the Act:
(4) If subsection 213A(2) of the Act applies to the applicant and the application is for assistance with an inquiry, mediation or proceeding in relation to an agreement mentioned in paragraph (a), or the resolution of a dispute about rights conferred under subsection 44B(1) of the Act:
(5) If subsection 213A(3) of the Act applies to the applicant:
(a) the applicant must have identified a native title party or other relevant party who is willing and able to negotiate, with the applicant, an agreement to which paragraph 213A(3)(a) or (b) applies; and
Division 4—Assistance for legal representation
(1) A decision maker may authorise the provision of assistance for legal representation to an applicant to whom subsection 213A(1) or (2) of the Act applies if the decision maker is satisfied that it is reasonable to do so after considering the following:
(a) the likely benefit to the applicant of participating in the inquiry, mediation, proceeding, agreement or dispute relative to the likely cost of assistance;
(b) whether the applicant’s interest is protected or capable of being protected under the regime for future acts in the Act;
(c) whether the applicant’s interest is appropriately protected having regard to the identity and interest of other parties to the inquiry, mediation, proceeding, agreement or dispute;
(d) whether the applicant’s participation in the inquiry, mediation, proceeding, agreement or dispute will enhance the prospect of a mediated outcome;
(e) the nature of the applicant’s interest and the nature of the native title rights being claimed;
(f) the number of claims that directly affect the applicant;
(g) the applicant considerations unless the applicant is a group;
(h) the legal considerations;
(i) any considerations mentioned in subsections (2), (3) and (4) that are relevant to the application.
Assistance for inquiries, mediation or proceedings—further considerations
(2) If the applicant is seeking assistance for legal representation under subsection 213A(1) of the Act, the decision‑maker must consider whether the applicant’s interest is likely to be adversely affected in a real and significant way if the native title claim is recognised.
Assistance for agreements and disputes—further considerations
(3) If the applicant is seeking assistance for legal representation under subsection 213A(2) of the Act, the decision‑maker must consider whether there is a significant benefit to the applicant, or likely to be a significant benefit to others, of an agreement being negotiated or a dispute being resolved, having regard to the following:
(a) the extent of any adverse effect on the applicant’s interest of a determination of native title;
(b) whether all parties necessarily involved in the matter in relation to which assistance is sought are willing and able to negotiate;
(c) the potential parties to the proposed agreement;
(d) whether a standard form of agreement, or template for an agreement, exists;
(e) the area of land or waters covered by the proposed agreement;
(f) the duration of the proposed agreement;
(g) the matters to be dealt with under the agreement.
Assistance for trials or preliminary or interlocutory proceedings
(4) If the applicant is seeking assistance for legal representation in a trial or preliminary or interlocutory proceeding, the decision‑maker must be satisfied that:
(a) the trial or proceeding raises a new and significant question of law relevant to the applicant’s interest; or
(b) the court requires the applicant’s participation; or
(i) the trial or proceeding is likely to adversely affect the applicant’s interest in a real and significant way; and
(ii) mediation has failed for reasons beyond the applicant’s control.
Division 5—Matters to be taken into consideration
Subdivision A—Applicant considerations
(f) the income of a financially‑associated entity of the applicant;
(g) the assets of a financially‑associated entity of the applicant.
4.9 Who is a financially‑associated entity?
(1) A financially‑associated entity of an applicant is any entity:
(2) For the purposes of determining whether a financially‑associated entity of an applicant could reasonably be expected to financially assist an applicant to fund the legal action, the decision maker may have regard to any relevant matter including, but not limited to, whether:
(a) the income or assets, or both, of the financially‑associated entity of the applicant are available for the use or benefit of the applicant; or
(c) the financially‑associated entity has a contrary interest to the applicant in the legal action.
Example for paragraph (c): A pension payable to the applicant.
Subdivision B—What are the legal considerations?
Note for paragraph (b): This includes, for example, participating in mediation.
(3) In deciding whether to authorise the provision of assistance, the decision maker may have regard to an opinion from counsel (whether sought by the Department or another entity) and the views of a relevant government organisation with responsibility for administering the relevant law.
(a) to refuse to grant assistance under Part 4 to an applicant;
(b) to make a grant of assistance under Part 4 for an amount that is less than the amount applied for by the applicant;
(c) to impose terms and conditions on a grant of assistance under Part 4 (whether set out in these guidelines or in the grant offer).
5A.1 Making a decision on an application
(2) In deciding whether to authorise the provision of assistance, the decision maker must have regard to the following matters:
(a) in relation to respondents for whose benefit assistance is sought by the applicant, the nature of the respondents’ interests and rights, having regard to considerations such as:
(i) the sector that the applicant represents; and
(ii) the likely benefit to such respondents in participating in a relevant native title proceeding; and
(iii) the native title issues that such respondents are likely to face in the relevant native title proceeding; and
(iv) whether the interests of such respondents are likely to be adversely affected in a real and significant way if a native title claim is recognised, or whether those interests are capable of being protected under the Act by another party to the relevant native title proceeding, relative to other applications for assistance;
(b) if the applicant has received assistance under the Native Title Officer Funding Scheme or other governmental monetary assistance—its record of compliance with any terms and conditions on which that assistance was provided;
(c) the applicant’s ability to match the assistance provided by the Commonwealth;
(d) whether authorising the provision of assistance represents value for money and is reasonable in all the circumstances;
(e) the availability of funds for the year in which the assistance is to be provided.
(3) The decision maker must give equal weight to each matter.
5A.2 No assistance for retrospective costs
5A.3 No assistance for administrative costs etc.
A decision maker must not authorise the provision of assistance for:
(a) if a person is, or is to be, a native title officer and will carry out other duties—costs incurred in respect of those other duties; or
(b) administrative expenses, including ongoing costs of the applicant peak body or other organisation; or
(c) costs incurred in dealing with the Department in relation to an application for assistance; or
(d) costs incurred in relation to activities which are already funded, or significantly funded, by the Commonwealth.
5A.4 Notice of decision
(1) The decision maker must give the applicant, or the entity that applied on behalf of the applicant, written notice of the decision maker’s decision.
(b) be given not later than 28 days after the last day on which submissions may be submitted, as mentioned in paragraph 3.3(ba).
Division 2—Interests of respondents
5A.5 Interests for which assistance is not to be granted
A decision maker must not grant assistance under section 213A of the Act to an applicant in respect of a respondent for whose benefit assistance is sought if the respondent’s interest in a native title proceeding:
(a) is, or may be, a previous exclusive possession act; or
(b) has, or may have, extinguished native title according to law; or
(c) is, or may be, a low impact future act; or
(d) is, or may be, a Scheduled interest; or
(e) relates, or may relate, to connection or other anthropological issues; or
(f) relates, or may relate, to compensation.
Division 3—Native Title Officer Funding Scheme
5A.6 Matters to be considered
A decision maker may authorise the provision of assistance under section 213A of the Act if the decision maker is satisfied that the assistance will fund the position of a person, known as a native title officer, to:
Native Title (Assistance from Attorney‑General) Guideline 2012
20 Dec 2012 (F2012L02564)
1 Jan 2013 (s 1.2)
Native Title (Assistance from Attorney‑General) Amendment Guideline 2013
12 Dec 2013 (F2013L02084)
Native Title (Assistance from Attorney‑General) Amendment Guidelines 2016
18 Nov 2016 (F2016L01775)
Sch 1 (items 1–13): 19 Nov 2016 (s 2(1) item 2)
Sch 1 (item 14): 1 Mar 2017 (s 2(1) item 3)
s 1.1...........................................................
rs F2016L01775
s 1.2...........................................................
ad F2016L01775
s 1.3...........................................................
rep F2016L01775
s 2.1...........................................................
am F2016L01775
s 2.2...........................................................
s 2.3...........................................................
s 2.4...........................................................
rep F2013L02084
s 3.1...........................................................
s 3.3...........................................................
Part 4 heading.............................................
s 4.1...........................................................
am F2013L02084
s 4.6...........................................................
rs F2013L02084
s 4.7...........................................................
s 4.15.........................................................
s 5.1...........................................................
Part 5A.......................................................
s 5A.1........................................................
s 5A.2........................................................
s 5A.3........................................................
s 5A.4........................................................
s 5A.5........................................................
s 5A.6........................................................
Part 6..........................................................
s 6.1...........................................................
s 6.2...........................................................