The Supreme Court of Western Australia has held that three notices issued by the Minister for Lands for the purpose of acquiring interest of an area known as James Price point are invalid. This was determined on the basis of the Minister’s failure to provide a description of the land required. The Court also determined that the plaintiffs, Mr Neil McKenzie and Mr Phillip Roe, have a sufficient interest in the validity of these notices to attract the jurisdiction of the court. It is unclear whether this decision will prevent the Western Australian government and Woodside Petroleum’s plans to establish a liquefied natural gas hub in this area.
By Geordie Fung
Read: McKenzie v Minister for Lands, December 6th 2011