SafeWork NSW v McInerney Enterprises Pty Ltd;; SafeWork NSW v Taylor McInerney [2023] NSWDC 56

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v McInerney Enterprises Pty Ltd;; SafeWork NSW v Taylor McInerney [2023] NSWDC 56 Hearing dates: 9 March 2023 Date of orders: 15 March 2023 Decision date: 15 March 2023 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Strathdee DCJ Decision: (1) The defendants are convicted. (2) The appropriate fine for the offence by McInerney Enterprises Pty Ltd, the corporate defendant, is $400,000.00 and that will be reduced by 25% to reflect the plea of guilty. (3) Accordingly, the fine for the corporate defendant should be $300,000.00. (4) In exercising my discretion under s 6 of the Fines Act 1996 (NSW), I order that the corporate defendant pay a fine of $150,000.00. (5) The appropriate fine for the offence by Mr McInerney, the individual defendant, is $1,000.00 and that will be reduced by 25% to reflect the guilty plea. (6) Accordingly, the fine for the individual defendant should be $750.00. (7) In exercising my discretion under s 6 of the Fines Act 1996 (NSW), I order the individual defendant pay a fine of $375.00. (8) Pursuant to s 122(2) of the Fines Act 1996 (NSW), 50% of the fines imposed are to be paid to the prosecutor. (9) Pursuant to s 257B of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), the defendants are to pay the prosecutor's costs, agreed in the sum of $30,000.00 exclusive of GST. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – prosecution – work health and safety – duty of persons undertaking business – risk of death or serious injury – vulnerable worker SENTENCE – objective seriousness – mitigating factors – aggravating factors – plea of guilty – discount of 25% for the utility of the plea – general deterrence – specific deterrence – remorse and contrition – capacity to pay COSTS – prosecutor's costs 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 Pty Ltd v Nash 93 (2016) NSWLR 338 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Environmental Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Ferguson v Nelmac Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 188 Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Ltd (1996) 82 IR 384 Inspector Beacham v J & L Marble Pty Ltd [2009] NSWIRComm 100 Inspector Callaghan v Saunders Constructions (Queensland Industrial Relations Court, 26 November 1993) Inspector Fraser v Karabelas (No 2) [2011] NSWIRComm 153 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 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 McColl v John Watson Building Services and Dowdon Contracting Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 353 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 Rahme v R (1989) 43 A Crim R 81 SafeWork NSW v Cosentino Australia Pty Ltd [2018] NSWDC 182 SafeWork NSW v Harris Holdings NSW Pty Ltd [2017] NSWDC 299 SafeWork NSW v Harry Zizikas [2017] NSWDC 299 SafeWork NSW v HCM Building Pty Ltd [2019] NSWDC 632 Schultz v Tamworth City Council (1994-95) 58 IR 221 Unity Pty Limited v SafeWork NSW [2018] NSWCCA 266 Veen v R (No. 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465 WorkCover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Ankucic) v Lyndhurst Trading Co Pty Ltd (2000) 95 IR 462 WorkCover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Egan) v Atco Controls Pty Ltd (1998) 82 IR 80 WorkCover Authority (NSW) v Profab Industries Pty Ltd (2000) 49 NSWLR 700 WorkCover Authority (NSW) v Sarjame Storage Pty Ltd [2015] NSWDC 151 Category: Principal judgment Parties: SafeWork NSW (Prosecutor) McInerney Enterprises Pty Ltd and Taylor McInerney(Defendants) Representation: Counsel: Ms R Rodger (for the Prosecutor) Mr B McManamey (for the Defendants)