ACE Demolition & Excavation Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority [2024] NSWCCA 4

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: ACE Demolition & Excavation Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority [2024] NSWCCA 4 Hearing dates: 22 November 2023 Decision date: 09 February 2024 Before: Leeming JA at [1]; Garling J at [121]; Cavanagh J at [122] Decision: In each appeal (357465, 357466, 357467 and 357468 of 2020), make the following orders: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Quash order 3 made on 2 February 2023 and in lieu thereof, impose fines of: (a) $216,000 in the case of each of 357465 and 357466 of 2020; (b) $90,000 in the case of 357467 of 2020, and (c) $252,000 in the case of 357468 of 2020. 3. Alter Annexure B by (a) inserting a new sentence at the end of the first paragraph "On 9 February 2024 the Court of Criminal Appeal allowed an appeal." and (b) delete "$943,650" and replace with "$774,000". 4. Discharge the stay of the orders for payment of the fines and publication of a notice with effect from 28 days of today. 5. Liberty to apply in respect of the form of Annexure B within 14 days of today. Catchwords: CRIME – appeal against sentence – environmental offences – appellant pleaded guilty to three offences contrary to s 144AA(2) and one offence contrary to s 144AA(1) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) – transmission of false or misleading information during the course of dealing with waste – three offences of knowingly providing false information – hundreds of weighbridge documents falsified and provided to developers and site auditors – further false documents created to conceal earlier offending – whether primary judge erred in assessing harm and risk of re-offending – whether fines totalling $943,650 manifestly excessive – consideration of nature of ground alleging manifest excess – consideration of whether offending a "single course of conduct" and significance of that conclusion – whether errors in assessment of totality and parity – whether participation in statement of agreed facts a separate mitigating factor – appeal allowed and offender resentenced Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A, 22, 32, 43 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 5AA, 5AB Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 257B, 257G Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2022 (NSW) Fines Act 1996 (NSW), s 6 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), ss 144AA, 169C, 241, 250 Cases Cited: Achurch v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 141; [2014] HCA 10 Allesch v Maunz (2000) 203 CLR 172; [2000] HCA 40 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2017) 254 FCR 68; [2017] FCAFC 113 Barbaro v The Queen; Zirilli v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 58; [2014] HCA 2 Brown v R [2023] NSWCCA 330 Budvalt Pty Ltd v Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator [2022] NSWCCA 9 Bulga Underground Operations Pty Ltd v Nash (2016) 93 NSWLR 338; [2016] NSWCCA 37 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Commonwealth of Australia v Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate (2015) 258 CLR 482; [2015] HCA 46 Darcy v R [2019] NSWCCA 159 Dinsdale v The Queen (2000) 202 CLR 321; [2000] HCA 54 DS v R [2014] NSWCCA 267 Einfeld v Regina [2010] NSWCCA 87; 200 A Crim 1 Environment Protection Authority v ACE Demolition & Excavation Pty (No 2) (2023) 255 LGERA 44; [2023] NSWLEC 3 Environment Protection Authority v Afram [2022] NSWLEC 38 Environment Protection Authority v Complete Asbestos Removal Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Endacott (2016) 221 LGERA 24; [2016] NSWLEC 167 Environment Protection Authority v Complete Asbestos Removal Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Endacott (2016) 221 LGERA 24; [2016] NSWLEC 167 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 Mouawad (No 3) [2021] NSWLEC 16 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419 EPA v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 EPA v Ghossayn Group Pty Ltd [2023] NSWLEC 127 Gilmour v Environment Protection Authority (2002) 55 NSWLR 593; [2002] NSWCCA 399 Green v R; Quinn v R (2011) 244 CLR 462; [2011] HCA 49 Harris v Natural Resources Access Regulator; Timmins v Natural Resources Access Regulator [2023] NSWCCA 16 Hayek v R [2016] NSWCCA 126 Hilstollo Pty Ltd v Director General of National Parks and Wildlife Service (1998) 45 NSWLR 661 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Hurmz v R [2017] NSWCCA 235 Johnson v The Queen [2004] HCA 15; 78 ALJR 616 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Leda Manorstead Pty Ltd v Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment [2022] NSWCCA 220 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59; [1988] HCA 70 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZVFW (2018) 264 CLR 541; [2018] HCA 30 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Muniandy v R [2021] NSWCCA 305 Parker v R [2023] NSWCCA 234 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 Pleasance v R [2016] NSWCCA 113 R v David Comber [2012] NSWSC 1502 R v Einfeld [2009] NSWSC 119 R v King [2009] NSWCCA 117 R v Pham (2015) 256 CLR 550; [2015] HCA 39 R v XX [2017] NSWCCA 9; 266 A Crim R 132 Royer v Western Australia [2009] WASCA 139 Sigalla v R [2021] NSWCCA 22 Thorn v R [2009] NSWCCA 294; 198 A Crim R 135 Vaovasa v R [2007] NSWCCA 253; 174 A Crim R 15 Texts Cited: D A Thomas, Principles of Sentencing (2nd ed 1979) Category: Principal judgment Parties: ACE Demolition & Excavation Pty Ltd (Appellant in each proceeding) Environment Protection Authority (Respondent in each proceeding) Representation: Counsel: J Potts SC and K Morris (Appellant) J Single SC and F Graham (Respondent)