R v Narouz [2024] NSWCCA 14

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: R v Narouz [2024] NSWCCA 14 Hearing dates: 2 February 2024 Date of orders: 19 February 2024 Decision date: 19 February 2024 Before: Bell CJ at [1]; Harrison CJ at CL at [2]; Chen J at [3] Decision: The first question of law on case stated should be answered "Yes". The second question of law on case stated should be answered "Unnecessary to answer". Catchwords: CRIME – criminal liability – absolute liability – statutory offences – whether the offence of driving a motor vehicle while there is present in the person's oral fluid, blood or urine any prescribed illicit drug is an offence of strict or absolute liability – statutory interpretation of s 111(1) of the Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Drug Testing) Act 2006 (NSW) (repealed) Road Transport Legislation (Repeal and Amendment) Act 2013 (NSW) (repealed) Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 (NSW) (repealed) Cases Cited: Catlow v Accident Compensation Commission (1989) 167 CLR 543; [1989] HCA 43 CTM v The Queen (2008) 236 CLR 440; [2008] HCA 25 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Bone (2005) 64 NSWLR 735; [2005] NSWSC 1239 Environment Protection Authority v N (1992) 26 NSWLR 352 Franklin v Stacey (1981) 27 SASR 490 Harrison v Melhem (2008) 72 NSWLR 380; [2008] NSWCA 67 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 Jiminez v The Queen (1992) 173 CLR 572 Kearon v Grant [1991] 1 VR 321 Leichardt Municipal Council v Hunter (2013) 83 NSWLR 637; [2013] NSWCCA 87 Lim Chin Aik v The Queen [1963] AC 160 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355 R v A2 (2019) 269 CLR 507; [2019] HCA 35 R v Wampfler (1987) 11 NSWLR 541 Re Bolton; Ex parte Beane (1987) 162 CLR 514; [1987] HCA 12 Registrar of Titles (WA) v Franzon (1975) 132 CLR 611; [1975] HCA 41 Saeed v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2010) 241 CLR 252; [2010] HCA 23 Sherras v De Rutzen [1895] 1 QB 918 Shorten v David Hurst Constructions Pty Ltd (2008) 72 NSWLR 211; [2008] NSWCA 134 Stanojlovic v Director of Public Prosecutions (Vic) (2018) 273 A Crim R 215; [2018] VSCA 152 Sweet v Parsley [1970] AC 132 Tsolacis v McKinnon (2012) 38 VR 260; [2012] VSC 627 Wilson v Gahan [1999] VSC 72 Texts Cited: New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 19 September 2006 New South Wales Legislative Council, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 18 October 2006 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mina Narouz (Appellant) Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: I Todd (Appellant) B Hatfield SC (Respondent)