Profile
Admitted in 1988, Angus had early experience in commercial litigation and criminal law, but since 1995 has practised largely in native title law.
Since he came to the bar in 1999, Angus has practised in native title law in Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales. He has appeared in matters including:
- the National Native Title Tribunal in exploration licence expedited procedure objection hearings (including Moses Silver/Ashton Exploration Pty Ltd/Northern Territory [2002] NNTTA 18);
- the Federal Court in:
- native title determination application hearings (including Rubibi Community v Western Australia (No 7) [2006] FCA 459); and
- native title procedural matters (including Barunga v Western Australia (No 2) [2011] FCA 755); and
- the Full Court of the Federal Court defending an appeal against a native title determination (Western Australia v Sebastian [2008] FCAFC 65).
- The Full Court of the Federal Court regarding whether a party had mediated in good faith under the Native Title Act (Widjabul Wia-Bal v Attorney General of New South Wales [2020] FCAFC 34; 274 FCR 577)
His work has also involved:
- taking instructions from groups of Aboriginal people regarding the recognition, enforcement and exercise of their native title rights and interests;
- analysing evidence of land tenure and its impact on native title rights and interests;
- appearing in mediations;
- negotiating native title settlements and agreements about acts that affect native title rights and interests, including mining and exploration for minerals;
- drafting agreements, corporate rules and trust deeds; and
- advising on corporate structures to manage native title and implement agreements dealing with native title.
In addition, Angus has advised in administrative, property and environmental law matters.
He has also undertaken further study, completing a Masters degree in Environmental Science and, in 2014, a PhD titled ‘Getting it right for the future: Aboriginal law, Australian law and native title corporations’, which focuses on the governance of the Aboriginal corporations that manage native title rights and interests.
In 2013, the Commonwealth Government appointed him to the Taxation of Native Title and Traditional Owner Benefits and Governance Working Group.
Angus has also taught native title law at the Melbourne Law School since 2008. In 2015, he established and taught 'Managing Public and Native Title Lands', a subject in the Melbourne Law Masters.