Environment Protection Authority v O’Brien [2023] NSWLEC 118

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v O'Brien [2023] NSWLEC 118 Hearing dates: 4 to 6 October 2022; further submissions 5 December 2022 Date of orders: 03 November 2023 Decision date: 03 November 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Robson J Decision: See orders at [184] Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES — Defendant charged under s 144AA(1) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) — Plea of guilty not entered — Prosecution case agreed to be circumstantial — Whether the prosecutor has established the defendant guilty of the offences beyond reasonable doubt Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 50, 116, 165 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), ss 144AA, 191 Cases Cited: Davidson v R (2009) NSWLR 150; [2009] NSWCCA 150 Dhanhoa v The Queen (2003) 217 CLR 1; [2003] HCA 40 Ewen v R [2015] NSWCCA 117; (2015) 250 A Crim R 544 Filippetti v R (1978) 13 A Crim R 335 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Peacock v The King (1911) 13 CLR 619; [1911] HCA 66 R v Baden-Clay (2016) 258 CLR 308; [2016] HCA 35 R v Clarke (1997) 97 A Crim R 414 R v Filipovic; R v Gelevski (2008) 181 A Crim R 83 R v Green (No 10) [2021] NSWSC 1449 R v Hillier (2007) 228 CLR 618; [2007] HCA 13 Shepherd v R (1990) 170 CLR 573; [1990] HCA 56 Sutton v R (1984) 152 CLR 528; [1984] HCA 5 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Adam O'Brien (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Higgins (Prosecutor) R A Coffey (Defendant)