Inspector Gregory Maddaford v Graham Gerard Coleman & Anor [2004] NSWIRComm 317

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Inspector Gregory Maddaford v Graham Gerard Coleman & Anor [2004] NSWIRComm 317 APPELLANT/CROSS-RESPONDENT: Inspector Gregory Maddaford

PARTIES : FIRST RESPONDENT/CROSS-APPELLANT: Graham Gerard Coleman

SECOND RESPONDENT/CROSS-APPELLANT: Brian Gerard Coleman FILE NUMBER: IRC 3054 of 2004 CORAM: Walton J Vice-President; Kavanagh J; Haylen J CATCHWORDS : Appeal from decision of Chief Industrial Magistrate - leave to appeal - guilty plea - bullying - workplace pranks - culture of initiation in the workplace - failure to supervise - prior knowledge of risk - failure to take steps to detect and prevent risk - errors of fact - failure to investigate incident of bullying - failure to properly consider objective seriousness of offence - insufficient weight given to consideration of general and specific deterrence - obvious and foreseeable risk - simple measures to prevent risk not taken - employment of young people - responsibility to protect vulnerable employees - excessive weight given to subjective factors - lack of contrition - select prosecution of directors - sentence - appeal from discretionary decision - sentence manifestly inadequate - exercise of discretion under s10 of Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act - double jeopardy - parity - no evidence of impecuniosity - leave to appeal granted - appeal upheld - respondents re-sentenced - costs awarded Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1996 Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 Axer Pty Ltd v Environmental Protection Authority (unreported, Court of Criminal Appeal, Matter No. 60763 of 1992, 22 November 1993) Barber v Gundagai Shire Council (or alternatively Gundagai Council) [2002] NSWIRComm 243 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Corinthian Industries (Sydney) Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Wilson) (2000) 99 IR 159 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1 Department of Mineral Resources (Chief Inspector McKensey) v Berrima Coal Pty Limited (2001) 105 IR 348 Department of Mineral Resources (McKensey) v Kembla Coal and Coke Pty Limited (1999) 92 IR 8 Dinsdale v The Queen (2000) 202 CLR 321 Griffiths v The Queen (1997) 194 CLR 293 Haynes & Anor v CI&D Manufacturing Pty Limited (No 2) (1995) 60 IR 455 Independent Cargo & Wool Services Pty Limited v Inspector Mingare (unreported, Fisher CJ, Glynn and Peterson JJ, 10 March 1994) Inspector Barbosa v McDonalds Australia Limited [2003] NSWIRComm 196 Inspector Brian Dell v Jeffrey Fitzpatrick (2003) 121 IR 173 CASES CITED : Inspector Christopher Downie v Menzies Property Services Pty Limited [2004] NSWIRComm 259 Inspector Hanah v Wonar Pty Ltd (unreported, Fisher CJ, CT90/1214, 30 June 1992) Inspector Ian Batty v Graincorp Operations Limited [2002] NSWIRComm 49 Inspector Ian Lancaster v Burnshaw Constructions Pty Ltd [2002] NSWIRComm 319 Knowles v Anglican Church Property Trust (No 2) (1999) 95 IR 380 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 Lowe v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 606 McCarthy v Sell & Parker Pty Ltd [2000] NSWIRComm 273 Metwally v University of Wollongong (1985) 60 ALR 68 P F Thearle & Co Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Reynolds) [2002] NSWIRComm 102 Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295 Ridge Consolidated Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mauger) (2002) 115 IR 78 Riley v Australian Grader Hire Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 31 Signato v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 656 Van Rooy Machinery Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority (Insp Wolf) (2000) 97 IR 436 HEARING DATES: 10/21/2004 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 11/03/2004