Department of Education v Trad [2023] NSWCCA 329

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Department of Education v Trad [2023] NSWCCA 329 Hearing dates: 5 September 2023 Date of orders: 15 December 2023 Decision date: 15 December 2023 Before: Ward P at [1]; Dhanji J at [133]; Sweeney J at [134] Decision: Question of law on case stated should be answered "Yes". Otherwise, no order is made. Catchwords: CRIME – criminal liability – absolute liability – statutory offences – liability of nominated supervisor at a day care centre under s 165(2) of the Children (Education and Care Services) National Law 2010 (NSW) – whether "must ensure" imports a standard of absolute liability Legislation Cited: Children (Education and Care Services National Law Application) Act 2010 (NSW), s 9 Children (Education and Care Services) National Law 2010 (NSW), ss 3, 5, 104, 162, 165, 269 Children's Services Act 1996 (Vic), ss 26(1), 27(1) Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW), s 11 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5B Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 215 Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (Vic), s 165 Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 (NSW), s 117C Fines Act 1996 (NSW), s 122 Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 (Vic), s 21 Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (NSW) Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Cases Cited: ABC Developmental Learning Centres Pty Ltd v Wallace (2007) 16 VR 409; [2007] VSCA 138 Babaniaris v Lutony Fashions Pty Ltd (1987) 163 CLR; [1987] HCA 19 Clyne v Wrigley [1980] 1 NSWLR 499 Coal & Allied Operations Pty Ltd v Crossley [2023] NSWCA 182 CTM v The Queen (2008) 236 CLR 440; [2008] HCA 25 Day v Sanders; Day v Harness Racing New South Wales (2015) 90 NSWLR 764; [2015] NSWCA 324 Duarte v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2020] NSWCCA 351 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 230 CLR 89; [2007] HCA 22 Fortress Credit Corporation (Australia) II Pty Ltd v Fletcher (2015) 254 CLR 489; [2015] HCA 10 Gibson v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (No 2) (2021) 105 NSWLR 434; [2021] NSWCA 218 Greyhound Racing Victoria Stewards v Anderton [2018] VSC 64 Hawthorne (Department of Health) v Morcam Pty Ltd (1992) 29 NSWLR 120 He Kaw Teh v The Queen (1985) 157 CLR 523; [1985] HCA 43 Hickling v Laneyrie (1991) 21 NSWLR 730 Holloway v Gilport Pty Ltd (1995) 79 A Crim R 76 Jesse v Roads and Maritime Services NSW [2019] NSWCCA 176 Jones v Wrotham Park Settled Estates [1980] AC 74 Kearon v Grant [1991] 1 VR 321 Lim Chin Aik v The Queen [1963] AC 160 Orr v Cobar Management Pty Limited (2020) 103 NSWLR 36; [2020] NSWCCA 220 Proudman v Dayman (1941) 67 CLR 536; [1941] HCA 28 R v Clarke (2008) 100 SASR 363; [2008] SASC 100 R v Hookham (No 2) (1993) 32 NSWLR 345 R v Walker (1994) 35 NSWLR 384 R v Wampfler (1987) 11 NSWLR 541 Re Alcan Australia Ltd; Ex parte Federation of Industrial, Manufacturing and Engineering Employees (1994) 181 CLR 96; [1994] HCA 34; Sasterawan v Morris [2008] NSWCA 70 Sherras v De Rutzen (1895) 1 QB 918 Spies v The Queen (2000) 201 CLR 603; [2000] HCA 43 Stanojlovic v Director of Public Prosecutions (Vic) [2018] VSCA 152; (2018) 273 A Crim R 215 Strathfield Municipal Council v Elvy (1992) 25 NSWLR 745 Talay v R [2010] NSWCCA 308 Taylor v Owners – Strata Plan No 11564 (2014) 253 CLR 531; [2014] HCA 9 Trad v Department of Education (NSW) [2023] NSWDC 168 Tritton v Clarke [2018] NSWCCA 31 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Early Childhood Education, Department of Education (Applicant) Faten Trad (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: JS Emmett SC, KH Averre, HH Thomas-Dubler (Applicant) J Agius SC (Respondent)