JBS Australia Pty Ltd v SafeWork NSW [2024] NSWCCA 209

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: JBS Australia Pty Ltd v SafeWork NSW [2024] NSWCCA 209 Hearing dates: 30 September 2024 Date of orders: 13 November 2024 Decision date: 13 November 2024 Before: Ward P at [1]; Basten AJA at [2]; N Adams J at [154] Decision: (1) Dismiss the appeal from the judgment and orders made in the District Court on 19 September 2023 and 8 November 2023. (2) Order that the appellant pay the respondent's costs in this Court. Catchwords: CRIME – exercise of summary jurisdiction – nature of appeal – Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5AA – appeal "in the strict sense" – finding of error necessary for appellate intervention EMPLOYMENT and INDUSTRIAL LAW – scope of health and safety duty – risk assessment – adequacy of safe work procedures – adequacy of information, training and instruction – whether steps not taken were reasonably practicable – worker on livestock feed-lot – stacking of hay bales – moisture testing in vicinity of partly constructed stack – risk of injury from falling bale CRIME – penalty by way of fine – summary criminal proceedings – prosecution by agency of State – prosecutor not police officer – award of moiety of fine to prosecutor Legislation Cited: Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2000 (NSW), Sch 3 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 5, 5AA, 6, 7 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 133, 170, 245, Ch 4, Pt 5 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), ss 24, 25, 27, 28 Fines Act 1996 (NSW), s 122 Fines and Penalties Act 1901 (NSW), s 5 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75A Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), ss 19, 32, 229B, 230; Sch 2, cl 1 Cases Cited: Ah Yick v Lehmert (1905) 2 CLR 593; [1905] HCA 22 Bulga Underground Operations Pty Ltd v Nash (2016) 93 NSWLR 338; [2016] NSWCCA 37 CDJ v VAJ (1998) 197 CLR 172; [1998] HCA 67 Chamberlain v The Queen (No 2) (1984) 153 CLR 521; [1984] HCA 7 Downey v Acting District Court Judge Boulton (No 5) (2010) 78 NSWLR 499; [2010] NSWCA 240 Duff v The Queen (1979) 39 FLR 315 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Geoff Derrick v ANZ Group Ltd (No 2) [2005] NSWIRComm 145 HD Projects Pty Ltd v SafeWork NSW [2022] NSWCCA 212 Histollo Pty Ltd v Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife Service (1998) 45 NSWLR 661 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Lacey v Attorney-General for the State of Queensland (2011) 242 CLR 573; [2011] HCA 10 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZVFW (2018) 264 CLR 541; [2018] HCA 30 Nash v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCCA 96 Slivak v Lurgi (Australia) Pty Ltd (2001) 205 CLR 304; [2001] HCA 6 Category: Principal judgment Parties: JBS Australia Pty Ltd (Appellant) SafeWork NSW (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: A Moses SC / P Sharp (Appellant) J Agius SC / N Read (Respondent)