WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Insp. Hopkins) v Red Lea Chickens Pty Ltd and Magg Transport and Packing Pty Limited [2003] NSWIRComm 71

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Insp. Hopkins) v Red Lea Chickens Pty Ltd and Magg Transport and Packing Pty Limited [2003] NSWIRComm 71 PROSECUTOR WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Hopkins) PARTIES : DEFENDANTS Red Lea Chickens Pty Limited Magg Transport and Packing Pty Limited FILE NUMBER: IRC 379, 381 of 2002 CORAM: Boland J CATCHWORDS : Occupational health and safety - Section 15(1) and 16(1) of Occupational Health and Safety Act - Pleas of guilty by two related companies - Person injured when fell through fibreglass roof sheeting - Whether charges should have been pursued in lower court - Whether principle of totality applied - Overall penalty divided equally between the defendants Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 LEGISLATION CITED : Factory Shops and Industries Act 1962 Fines Act 1996 Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (2000) 49 NSWLR 610, 99 IR 29 Department of Mineral Resources of NSW (McKensey) v Kembla Coal and Coke Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 8 Fletcher Constructions Australia Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Fisher) (1999) 91 IR 66 Ferguson v Nelmac Pty Limited (1999) 92 IR 188 CASES CITED : Hannah v Wonar Pty Limited (unreported, Fisher CJ, Glynn and Cullen JJ, Matter No. 1214 of 1990, 30 June 1992) Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295 R v Crombie [1999] NSWCCA 297 WorkCover Authority v Red Lea Chickens (No 2) [2001] NSWIRComm 40 WorkCover v TRW [2001] NSWIRComm 52 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (1999) 90 IR 464 HEARING DATES: 02/05/2003 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 03/21/2003