Chen on behalf of the Department of Regional NSW v Ardler; Chen on behalf of the Department of Regional NSW v Reid; Chen on behalf of the Department of Regional NSW v Thomas [2022] NSWDC 630

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Chen on behalf of the Department of Regional NSW v Ardler; Chen on behalf of the Department of Regional NSW v Reid; Chen on behalf of the Department of Regional NSW v Thomas [2022] NSWDC 630 Hearing dates: 26 October 2022 Date of orders: 14 December 2022 Decision date: 14 December 2022 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Haesler SC DCJ Decision: In each matter the appeal is upheld. I set aside the orders of the Local Court. I make no order as to costs. Catchwords: APPEALS – Costs - application of principle - statutory interpretation - unreasonably failed to investigate - relevant matter of which the prosecutor was aware that suggested that the accused person might not be guilty Evidence – Expert evidence - proof of expertise Fisheries Prosecutions - Identifying species of abalone - Aboriginal cultural fishing - successful defendant's costs - costs of appeal Legislation Cited: Crimes (Appeal & Review) Act 2001 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 Evidence Act 1995. Fisheries Management Act 1994 Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2010. Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) Cases Cited: AB v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2014] NSWCA 122, Allerton v DPP (1991) 24 NSWLR 550 Andrews v Ardler & Brown [2013] NSWDC 94 Attorney-General of Queensland v Holland (1912) 15 CLR 46; [1912] HCA 26 Cliftleigh Haulage Pty. Ltd. v. Byron Shire Council [2007] NSWCCA 13 Cox v R (No 2) [2017] NSWCCA 129 Czako v R [2015] NSWCCA 202 Fosse v DPP [1999] NSWSC 367 Hannes v DPP (Cth) (No. 2) [2006] NSWCCA 373 HG v The Queen (1999) 197 CLR 414; [1999] HCA 2 Honeysett v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR122; [2014] HCA 29 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534; [1990] HCA 59 Makita v Sprowles [2001] NSWCA 305; (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 McNab v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2021] NSWCA 298 Mordaunt v DPP [2007] NSWCA 121 O'Brien v Hutchinson [2012] NSWSC 429 R v Hunt [1999] NSWCCA 375 Southon & Ors v Gordon Plath on behalf of the Department of Environment and Climate Change [2010] NSWCCA 292 Texts Cited: Expert evidence and criminal jury trials; I Freckleton, J Goodman-Delahunty, J Horan & B McKimmie, Oxford, University Press 2016 Mutton fish the surviving culture of Aboriginal people and abalone on the South Coast of NSW, B Cruise, L Stewart, S Norman, Aboriginal Studies Press, 2005 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Anthony Chen for Department of Regional NSW (the appellant) Ricky John Ardler (the 1st respondent) Simon Leslie Graham Reid (the 2nd respondent) Ewan Leslie Thomas (the 3rd respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr I Wallach (for the respondents) Mr M McAuliffe for the Crown Solicitor (for the appellant)