Environment Protection Authority v Mouawad (also known as Isaac) (No 4) [2023] NSWLEC 76

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Mouawad (also known as Isaac) (No 4) [2023] NSWLEC 76 Hearing dates: 17 and 18 May 2023 Supplementary submissions filed 24 May 2023 (prosecutor), no supplementary submissions filed by the defendant Date of orders: 21 July 2023 Decision date: 21 July 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pritchard J Decision: Orders at [265] Catchwords: SENTENCING – pollution of land – transportation of waste – offences against ss 142A(1) and 143(1) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) – guilty plea – self-represented defendant – defendant's departure from statement of agreed facts – allegation of procedural unfairness –asbestos waste – importation of fill material not in accordance with waste classification certificates – allegation of recklessness – relevance of state of mind to offences against ss 142A(1) and 143(1) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 – medium to high objective seriousness – prior criminality – offences committed for financial gain – planned or organised activity – no remorse shown by offender – need for specific deterrence – discount for plea of guilty on the first day of the trial – discount for totality principle Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 3A, 21A, 22, 22A, 23 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) ss 247A, 247J, 247K, 247M Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 4, 191 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) ss 3, 142A, 143, 241, Sch 1 cll 49, 50 Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2014 cll 91, 92, 93 Cases Cited: Aland B & W Pty Ltd v Blacktown City Council [2023] NSWLEC 13 Axer Pty Ltd v EPA (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bankstown City Council v Hanna (2014) 205 LGERA 39; [2014] NSWLEC 152 Barbaro v the Queen (2014) 253 CLR 58; [2014] HCA 2 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd (2006) 145 LGERA 234; [2006] NSWLEC 34 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Boyle [2019] NSWLEC 54 City of Parramatta Council v Sydney Trees Excavation and Demolition Pty Ltd [2021] NSWLEC 71 CL v R [2014] NSWCCA 196 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae (2009) 168 LGERA 121; [2009] NSWLEC 137 Duffy v R [2009] NSWCCA 304 Elias v The Queen (2013) 248 CLR 48; [2013] HCA 31 Environment Protection Authority v Afram (2022) 252 LGERA 153; [2022] NSWLEC 38 Environment Protection Authority v Albiston [2020] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Aargus Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 19 Environment Protection Authority v Crush and Haul Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Cauchi [2022] NSWLEC 113 Environment Protection Authority v Forestry Corporation of New South Wales [2022] NSWLEC 70 Environment Protection Authority v Foxman & Ors (No 2) [2016] NSWLEC 120 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna [2010] NSWLEC 98 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna (2018) 235 LGERA 114; [2018] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Hughes [2019] NSWLEC 108 Environment Protection Authority v Laison [2015] NSWLEC 89 Environment Protection Authority v Minto Recycling Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 193 Environment Protection Authority v Mouawad (also known as Boulos Isaac) (No 2) [2023] NSWLEC 38 Environment Protection Authority v Mouawad (Land and Environment Court (NSW), Moore J, 28 September 2022, unrep) Environment Protection Authority v Mouawad (No 2) [2020] NSWLEC 166 Environment Protection Authority v Mouawad (No 3) [2021] NSWLEC 16 Environment Protection Authority v Mouawad (No 3) [2023] NSWLEC 44 Environment Protection Authority v P&M Quality Small Goods Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 89 Environment Protection Authority v Ramsey Food Processing [2009] NSWLEC 152 Environment Protection Authority v Robinson [2004] NSWLEC 629 Environment Protection Authority v Sam Abbas (also known as Osama Abbas) [2021] NSWLEC 57 Environment Protection Authority v Smart Skip Pty Ltd [2009] NSWLEC 204 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2019] NSWLEC 100 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2021] NSWLEC 17 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2023] NSWLEC 68 Environment Protection Authority v University of Sydney (2022) 251 LGERA 361; [2022] NSWLEC 41 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation (2006) 148 LGERA 299; [2006] NSWLEC 419 Fairfield City Council v Oztech Developments Pty Ltd [2021] NSWLEC 81 Filippou v The Queen (2015) 256 CLR 47; [2015] HCA 29 Garrett v Williams (2006) 160 LGERA 115; [2006] NSWLEC 785 GAS v The Queen (2004) 217 CLR 198; [2004] HCA 22 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council (2006) 145 LGERA 189; [2006] NSWLEC 242 Harris v Harrison (2014) 86 NSWLR 422; [2014] NSWCCA 84 Harrison v Perdikaris [2015] NSWLEC 99 Hills Shire Council v Kinnarney Civil & Earthworks Pty Ltd (2012) 188 LGERA 273; [2012] NSWLEC 45 Leach v The Queen (2007) 230 CLR 1; [2007] HCA 3 Liverpool City Council v Leppington Pastoral Co Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 170 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Maxwell v The Queen (1996) 184 CLR 501; [1996] HCA 46 Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59 at 63; [1988] HCA 70 Mouawad v The Hills Shire Council (2013) 199 LGERA 28; [2013] NSWLEC 165 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 NCR Australia Pty Ltd v Credit Connection Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 1118 Newcastle City Council v Pace Farm Egg Products [2002] NSWLEC 66 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 Plath v Rawson (2009) 170 LGERA 253; [2009] NSWLEC 178 R v O'Neill [1979] 2 NSWLR 582 R v Peel [1971] 1 NSWLR 247 R v Thomson and Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v AGL Energy Limited [2017] NSWLEC 2 Strbak v The Queen (2020) 267 CLR 494; [2020] HCA 10 The Queen v De Simoni (1981) 147 CLR 383; [1981] HCA 31 The Queen v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 Thuong Nguyen v R [2012] NSWCCA 184 Tiknius v R (2011) 221 A Crim R 365; [2011] NSWCCA 215 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Water NSW v Barlow (2019) 244 LGERA 1; [2019] NSWLEC 30 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Paul Mouawad (also known as Boulos Isaac) (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: N Sharp SC with T Phillips and A Ilic (Prosecutor) Defendant appeared in person Solicitors: Legal Services Branch, Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) File Number(s): 2018/260536; 2018/260542 Publication restriction: Nil