Environment Protection Authority v Ghossayn Group Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Ghossayn [2023] NSWLEC 127

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Ghossayn Group Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Ghossayn [2023] NSWLEC 127 Hearing dates: 4 and 5 October 2023 Date of orders: 17 November 2023 Decision date: 17 November 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Preston CJ Decision: Orders at [143] Catchwords: OFFENCES AND PENALTIES – sentence – unlawful transportation of waste – pollution of land – unlawful disposal of asbestos waste – supply of false information about waste – false waste delivery dockets – objective seriousness of offence – contrary to legislative objects and regulatory scheme – potential environmental harm – practical measures to prevent foreseeable harm – control over causes – offences in lower and mid-range – subjective circumstances of offender – early guilty plea – no previous convictions – good character – some assistance to authorities – remorse – unlikely to re-offend – publication order Legislation Cited: Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) ss 257B, 257G Fines Act 1996 (NSW) s 122(2) Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) ss 142A, 143(1), 143(3C),144AAA, 144AA(1), 126, 169(1), 169A, 241(1), 248(1), 250(1)(a) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 21A, 22(1), 23 Cases Cited: Bankstown City Council v Hanna (2014) 205 LGERA 39; [2014] NSWLEC 152 Chief Executive Office of Environment and Heritage v Brummell (2019) 242 LGERA 241; [2019] NSWLEC 114 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Ditchfield Contracting Pty Ltd [2018] NSWLEC 90 Environment Protection Authority v Ghossayn [2009] NSWLEC 181 Environment Protection Authority v Mouawad (No 2); Environment Protection Authority v Aussie Earthmovers Pty Ltd (No 3) (2020) 247 LGERA 23; [2020] NSWLEC 166 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation (2006) 148 LGERA 299; [2006] NSWLEC 419 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council (2006) 145 LGERA 189; [2006] NSWLEC 242 Hewitt v R (2007) 180 A Crim R 306; [2007] NSWCCA 353 Knight v R [2010] NSWCCA 51 Mill v the Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59 Morton v R [2014] NSWCCA 8 Pearce v the Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 Plath v Rawson (2009) 170 LGERA 253; [2009] NSWLEC 178 R v Borkowski (2009) 195 A Crim R 1; [2009] NSWCCA 102 at [32(8)] R v Thomson (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 R v Wheeler [2000] NSWCCA 34 Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Ghossayn Group Pty Ltd (Defendant in proceedings 2022/204377-79, 2022/235555 and 2022/295845) Mr George Ghossayn (Defendant in proceedings 2022/204393-95 and 2022/235567) Representation: Counsel: D Jordan (Prosecutor) A Djemal SC, R Coffey (Defendant)