Environment Protection Authority v Forestry Corporation of NSW [2024] NSWLEC 84

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Forestry Corporation of NSW [2024] NSWLEC 84 Hearing dates: 12 August 2024 Decision date: 16 August 2024 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: See below in [31], [33], [47]. Catchwords: PROCEDURE – application by non-government organisation a local environment centre to participate as amicus curiae in sentencing hearing for native vegetation offences Legislation Cited: Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW), ss 1.6, 13.2, 13.12, 13.20, 13.25, 13.26 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 36, 37, 42 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 21A, 27 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth), ss 178, 179 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 4 Forestry Act 2012 (NSW), s 69SA Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW), ss 21, 63 Land and Environment Court Rules 2007 (NSW), r 5.2 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), ss 245, 250 Cases Cited: Barbaro v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 58; [2014] HCA 2 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Clarence Valley Council (2018) 236 LGERA 291; [2018] NSWLEC 205 Corporate Affairs Commission v Bradley; Commonwealth (Intervener) [1974] 1 NSWLR 391 Director of Public Prosecutions v Yigit (2008) 51 MVR 105; [2008] NSWCA 226 Environment Protection Authority v Forestry Corporation of New South Wales [2022] NSWLEC 70 Environment Protection Authority v Forestry Corporation of New South Wales [2024] NSWLEC 78 Garrett v Williams (2007) 151 LGERA 92; [2007] NSWLEC 96 Gore v The Queen (2010) 208 A Crim R 353; [2010] NSWCCA 330 Karim v R; Magaming v R; Bin Lahaiya v R; Bayu v R; Alomalu v R (2013) 83 NSWLR 268; [2013] NSWCCA 23 Levy v State of Victoria (1997) 189 CLR 579; [1997] HCA 31 M(K) v M(H) [1992] 3 SCR 6 Maxwell v The Queen (1996) 184 CLR 501; [1996] HCA 46 MWSD v State of Western Australia [2017] WASC 125 National Australia Bank Ltd v Hokit Pty Ltd (1996) 39 NSWLR 377 Priest v West (in his capacity as Deputy State Coroner) (2011) 35 VR 225; [2011] VSCA 186 R v GJ (2005) 16 NTLR 230; [2005] NTCCA 20 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Seller; R v McCarthy (2012) 269 FLR 125; [2012] NSWSC 934 R v Wickham [2004] NSWCCA 193 Re BWV; Ex Parte Gardner (2003) 7 VR 487; [2003] VSC 173 Rendell v Release on Licence Board (1987) 10 NSWLR 499 United States Tobacco Co v Minister for Consumer Affairs (1988) 20 FCR 520 Texts Cited: Brunilda Pali, Miranda Forsyth, Felicity Tepper (eds), The Palgrave Handbook of Environmental Restorative Justice (2022, Palgrave Macmillan) Christopher Stone, 'Should Trees Have Standing? Towards Legal Rights for Natural Objects' (1972) 45 Southern California Law Review 450 Lisa Zhou, 'Fiduciary Law, Non-Economic Interests and Amici Curiae' (2008) 32(3) Melbourne University Law Review 1158 Mark Hamilton, Environmental Crime and Restorative Justice: Justice as Meaningful Involvement (2021, Palgrave Macmillan) Practice Note Class 5 proceedings Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Forestry Corporation of NSW (Respondent) Bellingen Environment Centre Incorporated (Amicus Curiae Applicant) Representation: Counsel: G Craddock with C Brain (Prosecutor) R Coffey (Defendant) J Corkill (Amicus Curiae Applicant)