SafeWork NSW v All Seasons (Aust) Gourmet Produce NSW Pty Ltd; and; SafeWork NSW v Skevos Kakias [2022] NSWDC 12

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v All Seasons (Aust) Gourmet Produce NSW Pty Ltd; and; SafeWork NSW v Skevos Kakias [2022] NSWDC 12 Hearing dates: 7 December 2021 Date of orders: 11 February 2022 Decision date: 11 February 2022 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Strathdee DCJ Decision: (1) The defendant, All Seasons (Aust) Gourmet Produce Pty Ltd, is convicted. (2) The appropriate fine is $150,000.00 and the defendant is entitled to a discount of 25% for the early plea. (3) Accordingly, I order the defendant, All Seasons (Aust) Gourmet Produce Pty Ltd, pay a fine of $112,500.00. (4) The defendant, Skevos Kakias, is convicted. (5) The appropriate fine is $50,000.00 and the defendant is entitled to a discount of 25% for the early plea. (6) Accordingly, I order the defendant, Skevos Kakias, pay a fine of $37,500.00. (7) Under s 122(2) of the Fines Act 1996 (NSW) a moiety of the fines imposed be paid to SafeWork NSW. (8) All Seasons (Aust) Gourmet Produce NSW Pty Ltd and Skevos Kakias to pay the prosecutor's costs as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – prosecution – work health and safety – duty of persons undertaking business – risk of death or serious injury – role of costs order in sentencing SENTENCE – objective seriousness – mitigating factors – aggravating factors – plea of guilty – general deterrence – specific deterrence – capacity to pay –appropriate sentence OTHER – s 19(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Fines Act 1996 (NSW) Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Cases Cited: Bulga Underground Operations Pty Ltd v Nash [2016] NSWCCA 37; (2016) NSWLR 338 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Environmental Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Ltd (1996) 82 IR 384 Inspector Beacham v J & L Marble Pty Ltd [2009] NSWIRComm 100 Jahandideh v R [2014] NSWCCA 178 Kirk v Industrial Court (NSW) (2010) 239 CLR 531 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (1999) 90 IR 464, 474–5 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 McColl v John Watson Building Services Pty Ltd (2004) 137 IR 310 Morrison v Powercoal Pty Ltd (No. 3) (2005) 147 IR 117 Nash v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCCA 96 Orbit Drilling v The Queen (2012) 35 VR 399 R v Cage [2006] NSWCCA 304 R v MA [2004] NSWCCA 92 R v Miria [2009] NSWCCA 68 R v MMK [2006] NSWCCA 272 R v Thomson & Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Youkhana [2004] NSWCCA 412 SafeWork NSW v Grandcity Constructions Pty Ltd [2018] NSWDC 398 SafeWork NSW v HCM Building Pty Ltd [2019] NSWDC 632 SafeWork NSW v Poletti Corporation [2019] NSWDC 491 SafeWork NSW v Williams Timber Pty Ltd; SafeWork NSW v Easy Fall Guttering Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCCA Veen v R (No. 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465 WorkCover Authority (NSW) v Profab Industries Pty Ltd (2000) 49 NSWLR 700 WorkCover Authority (NSW) v Sarjame Storage Pty Ltd [2015] NSWDC 151 Category: Sentence Parties: SafeWork NSW (Prosecutor) All Seasons (Aust) Gourmet Produce NSW Pty Ltd and Skevos Kakias (Defendants) Representation: Counsel: Mr M Moir (for the Prosecutor) Mr A Hallas (for the Defendants)