Llandilo Staircases Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Parsons) [2001] NSWIRComm 64

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Llandilo Staircases Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Parsons) [2001] NSWIRComm 64 APPELLANT Llandilo Staircases Pty Limited PARTIES : RESPONDENT WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Karen Louise Parsons) FILE NUMBER: IRC 6649 of 1999 CORAM: Wright J President; Walton J Vice-President; Hungerford J Workers Compensation - Appeal against conviction and sentence - Failure to obtain an insurance policy in respect of the employer's liability for injury to an employee - Nature of the offence - Common law presumption of mens rea or guilty intent - Whether offence one of absolute liability - Whether defence of honest and reasonable mistake of fact available - Principles to follow - Held, offence absolute - Conviction confirmed - Appeal dismissed. CATCHWORDS : Appeal - Leave to appeal - Challenge to an order of an industrial magistrate - Held, leave granted as to issue of statutory construction - Held, leave refused as to exercise of discretion not to apply statutory facility to avoid conviction and penalty - Appeal dismissed. Crimes Act 1900 s 556A Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 10 Industrial Relations Act 1996 s 188(1) s 189(1) s 197(1) LEGISLATION CITED : Justices Act 1902 Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 s 15(1) s 47(4) Workers Compensation Act 1987 s 155(1) s 155(3) s 161(1) Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 s 144 s 245(4) Blue Mountains Disability Services Ltd v Stinson (1999) 92 IR 246 Carrington Slipways Pty Ltd v Callaghan [1985] 11 IR 467 Chief of the General Staff v Stuart (1995) 58 FCR 299 Drake Personnel Ltd, t/as Drake Industrial v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 432 Griffin v Marsh (1994) 34 NSWLR 104 Hawthorne (Department of Health) v Morcam Pty Ltd (1992) 29 NSWLR 120 Haynes v C I & D Manufacturing Pty Ltd (1994) 60 IR 149 He Kaw Teh v The Queen (1985) 157 CLR 523 Horizon Cold Storage Constructions Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (1999) 100 IR 372 Kirkby v A & M I Hanson Pty Ltd (1994) 55 IR 40 Knowles v Anglican Church Property Trust (No 2) (1999) 95 IR 380 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 McCarthy v Sell & Parker Pty Ltd [2000] NSWIRComm 273 CASES CITED : Millar v Ministry of Transport (unreported, NZCA, 23 October 1986) Proudman v Dayman (1941) 67 CLR 536 R v Ewart (1905) 25 NZLR 709 R v Strawbridge [1970] NZLR 909 R v Wampfler (1987) 11 NSWLR 541 Riley v Australian Grader Hire Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 31 Schultz v Tamworth City Council (1995) 58 IR 221 State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Dawson [1990] 37 IR 110 Van Rooy Machinery Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Wolf) (2000) 97 IR 436 Von Lieven v Stewart (1990) 21 NSWLR 52 Wong v Melinda Group Pty Ltd (1998) 82 IR 118 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Fester) v Lantry (unreported, CIM 94/1163, 9 December 1994) WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Hopkins) v Profab Industries Pty Ltd (2000) 100 IR 64 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Robins) v Ecolab Pty Ltd (1999) 90 IR 413 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales v Waugh (1995) 59 IR 89 HEARING DATES: 07/24/2000 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 04/12/2001