Environment Protection Authority v Sam Abbas (also known as Osama Abbas) [2021] NSWLEC 57

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Sam Abbas (also known as Osama Abbas) [2021] NSWLEC 57 Hearing dates: 12-13 April 2021, 4, 17 May 2021 (written submissions) Date of orders: 2 June 2021 Decision date: 02 June 2021 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: See [126] of judgment Catchwords: PROSECUTION – sentencing for offence of transport of waste to unauthorised location in environmentally sensitive location – aggravating matters of financial gain and organised criminal activity not established beyond reasonable doubt – mitigation matters include offer to remediate site – totality principal applied PROSECUTION – sentencing for offence of land pollution due to deposition of waste – aggravating matters of financial gain and organised criminal activity not established beyond reasonable doubt – mitigation matters include offer to remediate site – totality principal applied PROSECUTION –sentencing of occupier of place used as waste facility without lawful authority – aggravating matters of financial gain and organised criminal activity not established beyond reasonable doubt – mitigation matters include offer to remediate site – totality principal applied Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 3A, 21A Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) ss 247E, 247J, 257B Fines Act 1996 (NSW) ss 6, 122 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) ss 5, 30, 39 Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Regulation 2009 (NSW) reg 109 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) ss 3, 91, 115, 142A, 143, 144, 241, 248, 250, Dictionary, Sch 1 Protection of the Environment Operations Amendment (Asbestos Waste) Act 2018 (NSW) Cases Cited: ADCO Constructions Pty Ltd v Goudappel (2014) 254 CLR 1; [2014] HCA 18 Attorney-General (Qld) v Australian Industrial Relations Commission (2002) 213 CLR 485; [2002] HCA 42 Bankstown City Council v Hanna [2014] NSWLEC 152 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Limited (2006) 145 LGERA 234; [2006] NSWLEC 34 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae (2009) 168 LGERA 121; [2009] NSWLEC 137 Environment Protection Authority v Ardent Leisure Ltd (ACN 104 529 106) [2018] NSWLEC 36 Environment Protection Authority v Ashmore [2014] NSWLEC 136 Environment Protection Authority v Foxman Environmental Development Services (No 2) [2016] NSWLEC 120 Environment Protection Authority v Gilder [2018] NSWLEC 119 Environment Protection Authority v Hughes [2019] NSWLEC 108 Environment Protection Authority v Laison [2015] NSWLEC 89 Environment Protection Authority v Mouawad (No 2) [2020] NSWLEC 166 Environment Protection Authority v Phillip Gregory Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Ravensworth Operations Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 222 Environment Protection Authority v Snowy Hydro Ltd (2008) 162 LGERA 273; [2008] NSWLEC 264 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2019] NSWLEC 100 Environment Protection Authority v Wattke; Environment Protection Authority v Geerdink [2010] NSWLEC 24 EPA v Ditchfield Contracting Pty Ltd [2018] NSWLEC 90 EPA v Wollondilly Abattoirs Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCCA 312 Garrett v Freeman (No 5) (2009) 164 LGERA 287; [2009] NSWLEC 1 Garrett v Williams (2006) 160 LGERA 115; [2006] NSWLEC 785 Harris v Harrison (2014) 86 NSWLR 422; [2014] NSWCCA 84 He Kaw Teh v The Queen (1985) 157 CLR 523; [1985] HCA 43 Heading v Elston (1980) 23 SASR 491 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 Hills Shire Council v Suciu (No 3) [2009] NSWLEC 192 Hoare v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 348; [1989] HCA 33 La Fontaine v The Queen (1976) 136 CLR 62; [1976] HCA 52 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Maxwell v Murphy (1957) 96 CLR 261; [1957] HCA 7 McClelland v Environment Protection Authority [2021] NSWLEC 25 Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59; [1988] HCA 70 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Murrihy v Betezy.com.au Pty Ltd (No 2) (2013) 221 FCR 118; [2013] FCA 1146 Pearce v The Queen (1988) 194 CLR 610; [1988] HCA 57 Pemble v R (1971) 124 CLR 107; [1971] HCA 20 Plath v Vaccount Pty Ltd t/as Tableland Timbers [2011] NSWLEC 202 Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295; [1997] HCA 26 R v Abboud [2005] NSWCCA 251 R v McNaughton (2006) 66 NSWLR 566; [2006] NSWCCA 242 R v MJR (2002) 54 NSWLR 368; [2002] NSWCCA 129 R v Muldoon (2015) 123 SASR 1; [2015] SASCFC 69 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Peel [1971] 1 NSWLR 247 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 Re Raison; Ex parte Raison (1891) 63 L.T. 709 Rodway v The Queen (1990) 169 CLR 515; [1990] HCA 19 Samuels v Songaila (1977) 16 SASR 397 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v AGL Energy Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 2 The Queen v De Simoni (1981) 147 CLR 383; [1981] HCA 31 Veen v The Queen (1979) 143 CLR 458; [1979] HCA 7 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Sam Abbas (also known as Osama Abbas) (Defendant) Representation: COUNSEL: P English and R McEwen (Prosecutor) T Howard SC (Defendant) SOLICITORS: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Storey & Gough (Defendant) File Number(s): 18/238707, 18/238708, 18/238709