Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v O’Haire [2020] NSWLEC 158

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v O'Haire [2020] NSWLEC 158 Hearing dates: 14, 15, 22 (further written submissions), and 27 October 2020 Date of orders: 19 November 2020 Decision date: 19 November 2020 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [220]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: sentence – unlawful taking of water – plea of guilty – factors to take into account in determining sentence – environmental harm – offences committed deliberately and for financial gain – no contrition or remorse demonstrated – extra curial punishment – totality principle applied – monetary penalty imposed – publication order made – costs ordered. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 ss 3A, 21A Fines Act 1996 ss 6, 122 Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 s 6 Water Management Act 2000 ss 49A, 52, 53, 55, 60C, 91, 324, 336, 343, 353, 364 Water Sharing Plan for the New South Wales Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2003 Water Sharing Plan for the New South Wales Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2016 Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Limited [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Bourke v R [2010] NSWCCA 22; (2010) 199 A Crim R 38 Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority [2001] NSWCCA 280; (2001) 115 LGERA 304 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Boyle [2019] NSWLEC 54 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Brummell [2019] NSWLEC 114 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Orica Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Orica Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 109 Church v R [2012] NSWCCA 149 Croaker v R [2008] NSWCCA 232; (2008) 190 A Crim R 15 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Hudson (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 110 Einfeld v R [2010] NSWCCA 87; (2010) 200 A Crim R 1 Elias v The Queen [2013] HCA 31; (2013) 248 CLR 483 Environment Protection Authority v Albiston [2020] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Crown in the Right of New South Wales (Office of Environment and Heritage) [2019] NSWLEC 66 Environment Protection Authority v Crown in the Right of New South Wales [2019] NSWLEC 178 Environment Protection Authority v GrainCorp Operations Limited [2019] NSWLEC 143 Environment Protection Authority v Hughes [2019] NSWLEC 108 Environment Protection Authority v M A Roche Group Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 29 Environment Protection Authority v McMullen [2020] NSWLEC 87 Environment Protection Authority v Rands [2019] NSWLEC 23 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2019] NSWLEC 100 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v O'Haire [2019] NSWLEC 158 Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Budvalt Pty Ltd; Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Harris [2020] NSWLEC 113 Harris v Harrison [2014] NSWCCA 84; (2014) 86 NSWLR 422 Harrison v Baring (No 2) [2012] NSWLEC 145 Harrison v Perdikaris [2015] NSWLEC 99 Hoare v The Queen [1989] HCA 33; (1989) 167 CLR 348 Hongzhi Sun v Grant Barnes, Department of Industry [2018] NSWLEC 196 Johnson v The Queen [2004] HCA 15; (2004) 78 ALJR 616 Johnston v R [2017] NSWCCA 53 Kearsley v The Queen [2017] NSWCCA 28; (2017) A Crim R 233 Khoo v R [2013] NSWCCA 323; (2013) 237 A Crim R 221 Ku-ring-gai Council v Abroon (No 3) [2012] NSWLEC 12 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mill v The Queen [1988] HCA 70; (1988) 166 CLR Morton v The Queen [2014] NSWCCA 8 Mouawad v Hills Shire Council [2013] NSWLEC 165; (2013) 199 LGERA 28 Muldrock v The Queen [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 Newcastle City Council v Pace Farm Egg Products Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 66 O'Haire v Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator [2020] NSWCCA 19 Parente v R [2017] NSWCCA 284; (2017) 96 NSWLR 633 Pearce v The Queen [1998] HCA 57; (1998) 194 CLR 610 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 Prothonotary v Gregory [2017] NSWCA 101 R v AB [2011] NSWCCA 229 R v De Simoni [1981] HCA 31; (1981) 147 CLR 383 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v Harris [2007] NSWCCA 130; (2007) 171 A Crim R 267 R v MAK; R v MSK [2006] NSWCCA 381; (2006) 167 A Crim R 159 R v Nichols (1991) 57 A Crim R 391 R v Obeid (No 12) [2016] NSWSC 1815 R v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54; (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v Oliver (1980) 7 A Crim R 174 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 R v Wheeler [2000] NSWCCA 34 Veen v The Queen [1979] HCA 7; (1979) 143 CLR 458 Veen v The Queen (No 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Walden v Hensler [1987] HCA 54; (1987) 163 CLR 561 Water NSW v Barlow [2019] NSWLEC 30 Weininger v R [2003] HCA 14; (2003) 212 CLR 629 Wingecarribee Shire Council v O'Shanassy (No 6) [2015] NSWLEC 138 Johnston v R [2017] NSWCCA 53 Category: Sentence Parties: Natural Resources Access Regulator (Prosecutor) Brian O'Haire (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: E Muston SC and A Bonnor (Prosecutor) J Van Aalst (Defendant)