NSW Resources Regulator v Rockwoods Investment Group Pty Ltd [2024] NSWDC 39

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: NSW Resources Regulator v Rockwoods Investment Group Pty Ltd [2024] NSWDC 39 Hearing dates: 20 February 2024 Date of orders: 28 February 2024 Decision date: 28 February 2024 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Russell SC DCJ Decision: (1) Rockwoods Investment Group Pty Ltd is convicted. (2) The appropriate fine is $200,000 but that will be reduced by 25% to reflect the early plea of guilty. (3) Order Rockwoods Investment Group Pty Ltd to pay a fine of $150,000. (4) Order pursuant to Section 122(2) of the Fines Act 1996 (NSW) that 50% of the fine is to be paid to the prosecutor. (5) Order Rockwoods Investment Group Pty Ltd to pay the prosecutor's costs agreed in the amount of $84,500. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – prosecution – work health and safety – duty of persons undertaking business – risk of death or serious injury SENTENCE – objective seriousness – mitigating factors – aggravating factors – plea of guilty – general deterrence – specific deterrence – capacity to pay appropriate penalty COSTS – prosecution costs OTHER – hard rock quarry – blast – flyrock landing in vicinity of others – exclusion zone – inadequate notice of blast delay Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A, 22 Explosives Act 2003 (NSW) Fines Act 1996 (NSW), ss 6, 122 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), ss 3, 19, 32 Cases Cited: Attorney General's Application under s 37 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 No. 1 of 2002 [2002] NSWCCA 518; (2002) 56 NSWLR 146 Baumer v R [1988] HCA 67; (1988) 166 CLR 51 Bulga Underground Operations Pty Limited v Nash [2016] NSWCCA 37; (2016) 93 NSWLR 338 BW v R [2011] NSWCCA 176 Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2000] NSWIRComm 71; (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Mahdi Jahandideh v The Queen [2014] NSWCCA 178 Muldrock v The Queen [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 Nash v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Limited; Attorney General for NSW v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Limited [2017] NSWCCA 96 R v McNaughton [2006] NSWCCA 242; (2006) 66 NSWLR 566 R v Wilkinson (No. 5) [2009] NSWSC 432 Unity Pty Limited v SafeWork NSW [2018] NSWCCA 266 Veen v The Queen (No. 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Category: Sentence Parties: NSW Resources Regulator (Prosecutor) Rockwoods Investment Group Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: G Lewer (Prosecutor) M Seck (Defendant)