SafeWork NSW v Miller Logistics Pty Ltd [2024] NSWDC 119

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v Miller Logistics Pty Ltd [2024] NSWDC 119 Hearing dates: 18 April 2024 Date of orders: 18 April 2024 Decision date: 18 April 2024 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Russell SC DCJ Decision: (1) Miller Logistics Pty Ltd is convicted. (2) Order Miller Logistics Pty Ltd to pay a fine of $450,000. (3) Order pursuant to Section 122(2) of the Fines Act 1996 (NSW) that 50% of the fine is to be paid to the prosecutor. (4) Order Miller Logistics Pty Ltd to pay the prosecutor's costs. (5) Direct the solicitor for the prosecutor to send a copy of this judgment to the liquidator of Miller Logistics Pty Ltd. 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 – forklift hit pedestrian worker at depot – inadequate traffic management plan – no separation of pedestrians and forklifts Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A, Fines Act 1996 (NSW), s122 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), ss 3, 19, 32 Cases Cited: 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 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 SafeWork NSW v Miller Logistics Pty Ltd; SafeWork NSW v Mitchell Doble [2024] NSWDC 58 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: SafeWork NSW (Prosecutor) Miller Logistics Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Scott (Prosecutor)