SafeWork NSW v TJN Construction Group Pty Ltd [2024] NSWDC 563

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v TJN Construction Group Pty Ltd [2024] NSWDC 563 Hearing dates: 24 September 2024 Date of orders: 28 November 2024 Decision date: 28 November 2024 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Strathdee DCJ Decision: (1) The defendant is convicted. (2) The appropriate fine for the offence is $400,000 and that will be reduced by 25% to reflect the plea of guilty, leaving a fine of $300,000. (3) In exercising my discretion under s 6 of the Fines Act 1996 (NSW), that fine will be reduced by one third. (4) Accordingly, I order the defendant to pay a fine of $200,000. (5) Pursuant to s 122(2) of the Fines Act 1996 (NSW), 50% of the fine imposed is to be paid to the prosecutor. (6) Pursuant to s 257B of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), the defendant is to pay the prosecutor's costs, as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – prosecution – work health and safety – duty of persons undertaking business – risk of death or serious injury – recklessness – maximum penalty SENTENCE – objective seriousness – mitigating factors – aggravating factors – plea of guilty – appropriate discount for the utility of the plea – general deterrence – specific deterrence – remorse and contrition – parity – maximum penalties – capacity to pay COSTS – prosecutor's costs Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A, 22 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 257B Fines Act 1996 (NSW), ss 6, 122 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), ss 3, 19(1), 31, 32, 242B Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW), cll 44, 51, 52, 299, 312, 344, 355 Cases Cited: Bulga Underground Operations Pty Ltd v Nash (2016) 93 NSWLR 338; [2016] NSWCCA 37 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (2000) 49 NSWLR 610; [2000] NSWIRComm 71 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Gregory (2011) 34 VR 1; [2011] VSCA 145 Environmental Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Ferguson v Nelmac Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 188 Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Ltd (1996) 82 IR 384 Haynes v CI & D Manufacturing Pty Limited (No 2); Callaghan v CI & D Industries Pty Limited (No 2) (1995) 60 IR 455 Inspector Beacham v J & L Marble Pty Ltd [2009] NSWIRComm 100 Inspector Fraser v Karabelas (No 2) [2011] NSWIRComm 153 Jahandideh v R [2014] NSWCCA 178 Jimmy v The Queen (2010) 77 NSWLR 540; [2010] NSWCCA 60 Kirk v Industrial Court (NSW) 234 CLR 531; [2010] HCA 1 Latoudis v Casey [1990] HCA 59; (1990) 170 CLR 534 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (1999) 90 IR 464 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 McColl v John Watson Building Services Pty Ltd (2004) 137 IR 310; [2004] NSWIRComm 353 Morrison v Powercoal Pty Ltd (No 3) (2005) 147 IR 117; [2005] NSWIRComm 61 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Nash v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Ltd; Attorney General for New South Wales v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCCA 96 Orbit Drilling Pty Ltd v The Queen (2012) 35 VR 399; [2012] VSCA 82 R v Cage [2006] NSWCCA 304 R v MA (2004) 145 A Crim R 434; [2004] NSWCCA 92 R v Miria [2009] NSWCCA 68 R v MMK (2006) 164 A Crim R 481; [2006] NSWCCA 272 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 R v Youkhana [2004] NSWCCA 412 Rahme v R (1989) 43 A Crim R 81 SafeWork NSW v Carbon BMC Pty Ltd [2023] NSWDC 349 SafeWork NSW v CRS NSW Pty Ltd; SafeWork NSW v Jay McGeachie Jenkins [2017] NSWDC 312 SafeWork NSW v Harris Holdings NSW Pty Ltd; SafeWork NSW v Harry Zizikas [2017] NSWDC 299 SafeWork NSW v HCM Building Pty Ltd [2019] NSWDC 632 SafeWork NSW v JA Investment Group Pty Ltd [2021] NSWDC 569 SafeWork NSW v JPS Car Wash Management Pty Ltd; SafeWork NSW v SRS Star Management Pty Ltd; SafeWork NSW v Sarjeet Sidhu [2021] NSWDC 148 SafeWork NSW v MMP Industrial Pty Ltd [2019] NSWDC 854 SafeWork NSW v Plasser Australia Pty Ltd [2021] NSWDC 441 SafeWork NSW v Cosentino Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2018] NSWDC 182 SafeWork NSW v Grandcity Constructions Pty Ltd [2018] NSWDC 398 Unity Pty Limited v SafeWork NSW [2018] NSWCCA 266 Veen v R (No 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 WorkCover Authority (NSW) v Profab Industries Pty Ltd (2000) 49 NSWLR 700; [2000] NSWIRComm 142 WorkCover Authority of NSW v Sarjame Storage Pty Ltd [2015] NSWDC 151 Texts Cited: SafeWork NSW Code of Practice Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace, July 2014 Category: Sentence Parties: SafeWork NSW (Prosecutor) TJN Construction Group Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: N Read (Prosecutor) B Eurell (Defendant)