Thanks Splits. I thought so too. Logical to announce after 4pm.
I have a theory on why the apparent delay making a decision.
RIO's appeal under S.111 of Mining ACt is probably rare. So I expect the department's legal is going to have to gather together all previous decisions and labouriously validate/dismiss every point made by both sides. And establish what is the Public Interest. I've heard it is something that varies from case to case. But to me it would be ridiculous for govt. to say "continuity of leasehold" is in public interest given first in first served principle in the Act.
But in this case I recall a small lesson in law. The Courts do not concern themselves with trivialities. Which I believe means, if an application has to made by Friday at 5pm, then 5:00:01pm (1 second past the hour) is trival. It's a simple question. A Yes or No answer. It either was or was not made on time.
Easy to see that RIO is not appealing on grounds of intention to lodge renewal. They missed the deadline by much more than a second.
All I want to now know is full news on how the application came to be delayed? I mean ALL OF THE DETAIL. Hour by hour, day by day. Must rule out sculduggery.
CAZ Price at posting:
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