Orr v Cobar Management Pty Limited [2020] NSWCCA 220

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Orr v Cobar Management Pty Limited [2020] NSWCCA 220 Hearing dates: 3 – 4 August 2020 Date of orders: 28 August 2020 Decision date: 28 August 2020 Before: Bathurst CJ and Bell P at [1]; Johnson J at [128]; Garling J at [136]; Lonergan J at [137] Decision: Answer the questions of law submitted to the Court of Criminal Appeal pursuant to s 5AE of the Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) as follows: 1. In answer to question 1, Scotting DCJ did not have power to state questions 2-7 referred to in the case stated pursuant to s 5AE of the Criminal Appeal Act because the questions submitted were not questions of law for the purposes of that section. 2. As the questions submitted (other than the first question) were not questions of law within the meaning of s 5AE of the Criminal Appeal Act, it is inappropriate to answer them. 3. The prosecutor should be ordered to pay the respondent's costs in this Court. 4. The matter should be remitted to the primary judge for the making of final orders. Catchwords: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE – Submission of purported questions of law to Court of Criminal Appeal – when questions submitted after primary judge had delivered reasons finding prosecutor had failed to establish two elements of offence charged – whether de facto appeal – whether proceedings before District Court in exercise of its summary jurisdiction had been completed prior to submission of questions – whether previous decisions of Court of Appeal and Court of Criminal Appeal should be overturned – whether questions submitted on a case stated were questions of law within the meaning of s 5AE of the Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) – meaning of questions of law. Legislation Cited: Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) s 5(1)(f) Casino Control Act 1992 (NSW) s 155 Charitable Trusts Act 1993 (NSW) s 14(1) Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) ss 57(4), 83 Commercial Arbitration Act 2010 (NSW) s 34A(1) Commonwealth Constitution s 73(iii) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 327(4) Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 (NSW) Sch 1 cl 22A Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW) ss 32, 43, 52, 53, 57, 107, 108, Pt 5 Crimes (Appeal and Review) Amendment (Double Jeopardy) Act 2006 (NSW) Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 (NSW) s 22 Crimes Legislation Amendment Act 1998 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) ss 5A, 5AE, 5B, 5BA(2), 5BB, 14, Pt 3 Criminal Code (Qld) s 669A District Court Act 1973 (NSW) ss 77, 142N Federal Court Rules (Cth) O 53 r 3(2) Justices Act 1902 (NSW) s 101 Justices Legislation Amendment (Appeals) Act 1998 (NSW) Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) s 197A Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020 (NSW) s 135(2) Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW) National Electricity (NSW) Law s 71(1) s 77A(14) Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW) s 6 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) ss 69(3), 101A, 107(c) Taxation Administration Act 1996 (NSW) s 106 Valuation of Land Act 1916 (NSW) s 42 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) ss 19(1), 32, 229B(1), 245, 246, 247, 248 Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Act 2013 (NSW) Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW) s 351 Cases Cited: Application of Attorney General (NSW) (2014) 246 A Crim R 150; [2014] NSWCCA 251 Attorney-General for the State of New South Wales v X (2000) 49 NSWLR 653; [2000] NSWCA 199 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321; [1990] HCA 33 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Saxby Bridge Financial Planning Pty Ltd (2003) 133 FCR 290; [2003] FCAFC 244 Australian Telecommunications Corporation v Lambroglou (1990) 12 AAR 515; [1990] FCA 689 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Ltd (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 Bass v Permanent Trustee Company Limited (1999) 198 CLR 334; [1999] HCA 9 Birdseye v Australian Securities and Investments Commission (2003) 38 AAR 55; [2003] FCAFC 232 Bropho v State of Western Australia (1990) 171 CLR 1; [1990] HCA 24 Budget Nursery Pty Limited v Commissioner of Taxation (1989) 42 A Crim R 81 Clyne v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (1981) 150 CLR 1; [1981] HCA 40 Coco v R (1994) 179 CLR 427; [1994] HCA 15 Collector of Customs v AGFA-Gevaert Limited (1996) 186 CLR 389; [1996] HCA 36 Collins v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (1986) 5 NSWLR 209 Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia v Australian Building Systems Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) (2015) 257 CLR 544; [2015] HCA 48 Corporate Affairs Commission of New South Wales v Yuill (1991) 172 CLR 319; [1991] HCA 28 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1; [1986] HCA 33 CSR Ltd v Amaca Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 338 Da Costa v R (1968) 118 CLR 186; [1968] HCA 51 Davern v Messel (1984) 155 CLR 21; [1984] HCA 34 Director of Public Prosecutions v Cassell (1995) 80 A Crim R 160 Edwards (Inspector of Taxes) v Bairstow [1956] AC 14 Electrolux Home Products Pty Limited v The Australian Workers' Union (2004) 221 CLR 309; [2004] HCA 40 Elias v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (2012) 222 A Crim R 286; [2012] NSWCA 302 Environment Protection Authority of NSW v Goulburn Wool Scour Pty Ltd (2004) 137 LGERA 289; [2004] NSWCCA 439 Environment Protection Authority v Grafil Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Mackenzie (2019) 101 NSWLR 245; [2019] NSWCCA 174 Environment Protection Authority v Land and Environment Court (NSW) (2004) 144 A Crim R 198; [2004] NSWCA 50 Environment Protection Authority v Terrace Earthmoving Pty Ltd (2013) 84 NSWLR 679; [2013] NSWCCA 180 Ex parte McGavin; Re Berne (1945) 46 SR (NSW) 58 Firebird Global Master Fund II Ltd v Republic of Nauru (2015) 258 CLR 31; [2015] HCA 43 Flaherty v Girgis (1987) 162 CLR 574; [1987] HCA 17 Forrest v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2020] NSWCA 162 Fortress Credit Corporation (Australia) II Pty Ltd v Fletcher (2015) 254 CLR 489; [2015] HCA 10 Garrett v Freeman (2006) 68 NSWLR 729; [2006] NSWCCA 278 Gett v Tabet (2009) 254 ALR 504; [2009] NSWCA 76 Griffiths (Inspector of Taxes) v JP Harrison (Watford) Ltd [1963] AC 1 Hope v The Council of the City of Bathurst (1980) 144 CLR 1; [1980] HCA 16 Iannella v French (1968) 119 CLR 84; [1968] HCA 14 IL v R (2017) 262 CLR 268; [2017] HCA 27 Jumbunna Coal Mine NL v Victorian Coal Miners' Association (1908) 6 CLR 309; (1908) 14 ALR 701 Kopuz v District Court of New South Wales (1992) 28 NSWLR 232; (1992) 62 A Crim R 337 Lavorato v R (2012) 82 NSWLR 568; [2012] NSWCCA 61 Mack Fleet Pty Ltd v Transport for NSW [2020] NSWCA 149 Medical Council of New South Wales v Lee [2017] NSWCA 282 Mellifont v Attorney General for the State of Queensland (1991) 173 CLR 289; [1991] HCA 53 Minister of State for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Teoh (1995) 183 CLR 273; [1995] HCA 20 Morrison v Peacock (2000) 110 A Crim R 454; [2000] NSWLEC 32 Nash v Glennies Creek Coal Management Pty Ltd (No 3) [2013] NSWIRComm 72 NSW Associated Blue-Metal Quarries Limited v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1956) 94 CLR 509; [1956] HCA 80 O'Brien v Komesaroff (1982) 150 CLR 310; [1982] HCA 33 Orr v Cobar Management Pty Ltd [2019] NSWDC 796 Orr v Hunter Quarries Pty Limited (No 2) [2020] NSWDC 307 Ove Arup Pty Ltd v Industrial Court of NSW (2006) 149 IR 193; [2006] NSWCA 28 Polites v Commonwealth (1945) 70 CLR 60; [1945] HCA 3 Potter v Minahan (1908) 7 CLR 277; [1908] HCA 63 R v Cheng (1999) 48 NSWLR 616; [1999] NSWCCA 373 R v Garnet-Thomas [1974] 1 NSWLR 702 R v IL [2016] NSWCCA 51 R v J (1987) 9 NSWLR 615; (1987) 30 A Crim R 173 R v JS (2007) 230 FLR 276; [2007] NSWCCA 272 R v Lazarus (2017) 270 A Crim R 378; [2017] NSWCCA 279 R v Lewis; ex parte Attorney General [1991] 2 Qd R 294 R v LK (2010) 241 CLR 177; [2010] HCA 17 R v Madden (1995) 85 A Crim R 367 R v Reynhoudt (1962) 107 CLR 381; [1962] HCA 23 R v RK (2008) 73 NSWLR 80; [2008] NSWCCA 338 Re Alcan Australia Ltd; Ex parte Federation of Industrial, Manufacturing and Engineering Employees (1994) 181 CLR 96; [1994] HCA 34 Registrar, Court of Appeal v Craven (No 2) (1995) 120 FLR 464; (1995) 80 A Crim R 272 Robinson v Woolworths Ltd (t/as Woolworths Plus Petrol Werrington) (2005) 64 NSWLR 612; [2005] NSWCCA 426 Safe Work NSW v Wollongong Glass P/L [2016] NSWDC 58 SafeWork NSW v BOC Limited [2020] NSWDC 156 Salvation Army (Victoria) Property Trust v Shire of Fern Tree Gully (1952) 85 CLR 159; [1952] HCA 4 Sasterawan v Morris (2007) 69 NSWLR 547; [2007] NSWCCA 185 Suttor v Gundowda Proprietary Limited (1950) 81 CLR 418; [1950] HCA 35 The Australian Gas Light Company v The Valuer-General (1940) 40 SR (NSW) 126 The Owners of the Ship "Shin Kobe" Maru v Empire Shipping Company Inc (1994) 181 CLR 404; [1994] HCA 54 Thomas v R (1937) 59 CLR 279; [1937] HCA 83 University of Wollongong v Metwally (No 2) (1985) 59 ALJR 481; [1985] HCA 28 Vetter v Lake Macquarie City Council (2001) 202 CLR 439; [2001] HCA 12 Violi v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2015] NSWCA 152 Voth v Manildra Flour Mills Proprietary Limited (1990) 171 CLR 538; [1990] HCA 55 Williams v R (1986) 161 CLR 278; [1986] HCA 88 Wilson v Chan & Naylor Parramatta Pty Ltd atf Chan & Naylor Parramatta Trust [2020] NSWCA 62 Texts Cited: L Burton Crawford and D Meagher, "Statutory Precedents under the 'Modern Approach' to Statutory Interpretation" (2020) 42 Syd Law Rev 209 P Herzfeld and T Prince, Interpretation (2nd ed, 2020, Thomson Reuters) T Endicott, "Questions of Law" (1998) 114 LQR 292 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Stephen James Orr (Applicant) Cobar Management Pty Limited (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: