Corliss v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2023] NSWCA 263

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Corliss v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2023] NSWCA 263 Hearing dates: 05 October 2023 Date of orders: 02 November 2023 Decision date: 02 November 2023 Before: Adamson JA at [1]; Stern JA at [5]; Basten AJA at [64]. Decision: (1) The amended summons filed on 10 July 2023 is dismissed. (2) Mr Corliss is to pay the Director's costs as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – jurisdictional error – application to re-open proceedings pursuant to Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), s 43 – where District Court dismissed application – whether jurisdictional error – whether penalty contrary to law SENTENCING – relevant factors on sentence – form 1 offences – jurisdictional error – Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), s 35A(2) – whether failure to comply with s 35A(2) invalidates sentence – no jurisdictional error ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – ground of review other than procedural fairness – procedural error – right to reasons – inadequacy of reasons – whether inadequacy of reasons on part of non-superior court amounts to jurisdictional error – nature of judicial duty to give reasons – reasons adequately conveyed essential ground for decision ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – whether reviewable error of law – jurisdictional error – materiality – no practical injustice – no materiality Legislation Cited: Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW), Pt 7, s 79(2) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 32, 33, 35, 35A, 43, 66 Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 71 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5(1)(c) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), ss 69, 75 Criminal Appeal Rules (NSW), r 50C Supreme Court (Criminal Appeal) Rules 2021 (NSW), r 5.4 Cases Cited: Achurch v the Queen (2014) 253 CLR 141; [2014] HCA 10 AK v Western Australia (2008) 232 CLR 438; [2008] HCA 8 Alexandria Landfill Pty Ltd v Transport for NSW (2020) 103 NSWLR 479; [2020] NSWCA 165 Attorney-General's Application under s 37 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 No 1 of 2002 (2002) 56 NSWLR 146; [2002] NSWCCA 518 Baxter v New South Wales Clickers' Association (1909) 10 CLR 114; [1909] HCA 90 Calvin v Carr (1979) 53 ALJR 471 Collector of Customs (NSW) v Brian Lawlor Automotive Pty Ltd (1979) 41 FLR 338; [1979] FCA 21 Corliss v R (No 2) [2020] NSWCCA 180 Corliss v R [2020] NSWCCA 65 Craig v South Australia (1995) 184 CLR 163; [1995] HCA 58 Grierson v The King (1938) 60 CLR 431; [1938] HCA 45 Meyers v Casey (1913) 17 CLR 90; [1913] HCA 50 Ming v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (2022) 109 NSWLR 604; [2022] NSWCA 209 MZAPC v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2021) 273 CLR 506; [2021] HCA 17 Nathanson v Minister for Home Affairs [2022] HCA 26; (2022) 96 ALJR 737 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 R v Baxter (No 2) [2019] NSWDC 736 R v Toyer (No 2) [2021] NSWDC 92 Sassoon v Rose [2013] NSWCA 220 Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 Stanley v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2023] HCA 3; (2023) 97 ALJR 107 The Ombudsman v Laughton (2005) 64 NSWLR 114; [2005] NSWCA 339 The Queen v Marks; Ex parte Australian Building Construction Employees and Builders Labourers' Federation (1981) 147 CLR 471; [1981] HCA 33 Wainohu v State of New South Wales (2011) 243 CLR 181; [2011] HCA 24 Wishart v Fraser (1941) 64 CLR 470; [1941] HCA 8 Texts Cited: KR Handley, Spencer Bower and Handley: Res Judicata (5th ed, LexisNexis, 2019) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Patrick Joseph Corliss (Applicant) Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (First Respondent) District Court of NSW (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Self-represented (Applicant) J Davidson (First Respondent)