McGregor v R [2024] NSWCCA 200

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: McGregor v R [2024] NSWCCA 200 Hearing dates: 31 May 2024 Date of orders: 01 November 2024 Decision date: 01 November 2024 Before: Bell CJ; Kirk JA; Harrison CJ at CL; Davies J; Sweeney J. Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal. (2) Allow the appeal. (3) Quash the sentence imposed by Herbert DCJ on 28 October 2022. (4) In lieu thereof, sentence Mr McGregor to an aggregate term of imprisonment of 10 years and 9 months commencing on 5 October 2021 and expiring on 4 July 2032 with a non-parole period of 7 years and 6 months expiring on 4 April 2029. Catchwords: CRIME — appeals — appeal against sentence — statutory mandatory minimum sentence prescribed — proper construction of s 16AAC of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) — reduction of mandatory minimum where provisions in s 16AAC(3) apply — error by treating provision as capping maximum discount as a proportion of the mandatory minimum, as opposed to provision setting a minimum floor SENTENCING — federal offenders — sentence by State court for offence against Commonwealth law — whether aggregate sentencing under s 53A of Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) can be applied to federal offences — whether s 53A is capable of being picked up by s 68(1) of the Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) — whether there is a conflict between Pt 1B of the Crimes Act and s 53A(2)(b) — whether there is a conflict between s 16AAA of the Crimes Act and s 53A(2)(b) — s 53A is capable of being picked up as federal law and does not conflict with Pt 1B or s 16AAA of the Crimes Act Legislation Cited: Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A, 25A, 44, 49, 53A, 54B, s 66 Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), ss 3, 4K, 16AAA, 16AAB, 16AAC, 16E, 19, 19AB, 19AG, 20AB Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5D Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), s 68 Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic), s 9 Sentencing Act 1995 (NT), s 52 Sentencing Act 1997 (Tas), s 11 Sentencing Act 2017 (SA), s 26 Cases Cited: Attorney-General (Cth) v Huynh [2023] HCA 13; (2023) 97 ALJR 298 Batak v R [2024] NSWCCA 66 Chan v R [2023] NSWCCA 206 Coleman v Power (2004) 220 CLR 1; [2004] HCA 39 Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions v ABC (a pseudonym) [2023] VCC 446 CSR Limited v Eddy (2005) 226 CLR 1; [2005] HCA 64 Cullen v R [2014] NSWCCA 162 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Beattie [2017] NSWCCA 301; (2017) 270 A Crim R 556 Hill v Zuda Pty Ltd (2022) 275 CLR 24; [2022] HCA 21 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Hurt v The Queen (2022) 18 ACTLR 272; [2022] ACTCA 49 Hurt v The King (2024) 98 ALJR 485; [2024] HCA 8 JM v R [2014] NSWCCA 297; (2014) 246 A Crim R 528 Karim v The Queen (2013) 83 NSWLR 268; [2013] NSWCCA 23 Lazarus v Independent Commission Against Corruption (2017) 94 NSWLR 36; [2017] NSWCA 37 Leeth v Commonwealth of Australia (1992) 174 CLR 455; (1992) 66 ALJR 529 Moriarty v Nye [2024] NSWCCA 116 Obian v The King [2024] HCA 18; (2024) 98 ALJR 771 Patel v R [2022] NSWCCA 93; (2022) 366 FLR 314 Peel v The Queen (1971) 125 CLR 447; [1971] HCA 59 Putland v The Queen (2004) 218 CLR 174; [2004] HCA 8 R v Clarke [2013] NSWCCA 260 R v Delzotto (2022) 298 A Crim R 483; [2022] NSWCCA 117 R v Glasheen [2022] NSWCCA 191 R v Hurt (No 2) [2021] ACTSC 241; (2021) 294 A Crim R 473 R v Jackson (1998) 72 SASR 490 R v Large [2021] NSWDC 429 R v Stiller (2023) 14 QR 38; [2023] QCA 51 Rohde v Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) (1986) 161 CLR 119; [1986] HCA 50 Seaegg v The King (1932) 48 CLR 251; [1932] HCA 47 Tenenboim v R [2024] NSWCCA 1 The Queen v Gee (2003) 212 CLR 230; [2003] HCA 12 The Queen v Murphy (1985) 158 CLR 596; [1985] HCA 50 Western Australian Planning Commission v Southregal Pty Ltd (2017) 259 CLR 106; [2017] HCA 7 Williams v The King (No 2) (1934) 50 CLR 551; [1934] HCA 19 Texts Cited: Johnson, P "Aggregate sentencing 12 years on" (2023) 35 Judicial Officers' Bulletin 1 New South Wales Legislative Council, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 23 November 2010 Explanatory Memorandum, Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill (No 2) 1989 (Cth) Explanatory Memorandum, Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Crimes Against Children and Community Protection Measures) Bill 2019 (Cth) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Andrew Stuart McGregor (Applicant) Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T Quilter and C O'Neill (Applicant) J Gleeson SC and C Tran (Respondent)