SafeWork NSW v Australian Softwood Pty Ltd [2022] NSWDC 242

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v Australian Softwood Pty Ltd [2022] NSWDC 242 Hearing dates: 31 May 2022 Date of orders: 30 June 2022 Decision date: 30 June 2022 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Strathdee DCJ Decision: (1) The defendant is convicted. (2) The appropriate fine for the offence is $350,000.00 and that will be reduced by 25% to reflect a plea of guilty. (3) Accordingly, I order the defendant to pay a fine of $262,500.00. (4) Pursuant to s 122(2) of the Fines Act 1996 (NSW), 50% of the fine imposed is to be paid to the prosecutor. (5) Pursuant to s 257B of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), the defendant is to pay the prosecutor's costs agreed in the sum of $37,956.35. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – prosecution – work health and safety – duty of persons undertaking business – risk of death or serious injury SENTENCE – objective seriousness – mitigating factors – aggravating factors – plea of guilty – general deterrence – specific deterrence – no previous convictions - appropriate sentence – strong subjective case OTHER – s 19(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Fines Act 1996 (NSW) Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW) Cases Cited: Bulga Underground Operations v Nash (2016) 93 NSWLR 338 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Ltd (1996) 82 IR 384 Kirk v Industrial Court (NSW) (2010) 239 CLR 531 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (1999) 90 IR 464 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 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 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 Texts Cited: Australian Standards AS 2359.2 – 2013 Powered Industrial Trucks Part 2: Operations SafeWork Australia "Falling Objects Fact Sheet", dated February 2012 SafeWork Australia "General Guide for Workplaces Traffic Management", dated July 2014 SafeWork NSW "Truck Management Guide for Truck Drivers", dated November 2016 WorkCover NSW Guide "Safety in the road freight transport industry", dated November 2013 Category: Sentence Parties: SafeWork NSW (Prosecutor) Australian Softwood Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr I Fraser (for the Prosecutor) Mr Y Shariff SC (for the Defendant)