Environment Protection Authority v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd (ACN 008 687 063) [2000] NSWLEC 6

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Environment Protection Authority v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd (ACN 008 687 063) [2000] NSWLEC 6 PROSECUTOR: PARTIES : Environment Protection Authority DEFENDANT: Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd FILE NUMBER(S) : 50010 of 1999 CORAM: Lloyd J Construction & Interpretation - Environmental Offences :- criminal offence - oil spill by employee of sub-subcontractor to defendant - whether defendant caused pollution - whether control by defendant - vicarious liability - whether defendant had non-delegable duty. KEY ISSUES: Construction & Interpretation:- "causes" "cause" "caused". Clean Waters Act 1970, s 16(1), (2) LEGISLATION CITED: Interpretation Act 1987, s 30(1) Occupational Health & Safety Act 1993 Protection of the Environment Operations [Savings & Transitional] Regulations 1988 cl 17(1) Adelaide Corporation v Australasian Performing Rights Association (1928) 40 CLR 481; Alphacell Ltd v Woodward [1972] AC 824; Attorney-General v Geothermal Produce NZ Ltd [1987] 2 NZLR 348; Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1992) 29 NSWLR 497 CCA; Bartonshill Coal Co v McGuire (1858) 3 Macq 300; Bathurst City Council v Environment Protection Authority (1995) 89 LGERA 79; Boral Roof Tiles Ltd v O'Brien (Court of Appeal, 15 December 1994, unreported); Broad v Parish (1941) 64 CLR 588; Brownlie v State Pollution Control Commission (1992) 27 NSW 78; Burnie Ports Authority v General Jones Pty Ltd (1994) 179 CLR 520; Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd v Producers and Citizens Co-operative Assurance Co of Australia Ltd (1931) 46 CLR 41; D & F Estates & Ors v Church Commissioners for England & Ors [1989] 1 AC 177; Dalton v Angus Co (1881) 6 App Cas 740; Darling Island Stevedoring & Lighterage Co Ltd v Long (1957) 97CLR 36; Davie v New Merton Board Mills Ltd [1959] AC 604; Dorset Yacht Co Ltd v Home Office [1970] AC 1004; Environment Agency v Empress Car Co (Abertillery) Ltd [1998] 2 WLR 35; [1998] AllER 481 HL; Environment Protection Authority v Munters Pty Ltd (1998) 98 LGERA 279; Environment Protection Authority v Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation Ltd (1994) 83 LGERA 51; Gibb v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1956) 118 CLR 628; Hetherington v Mirvac Pty Ltd [1999] NSWSC 443; Honeywill & Stein Ltd v Larkin Brothers Ltd [1934] 1 KB 191; [1933] AllER 77; Humberstone v Northern Timber Mills (1949) 79 CLR 389; Karatzidis v Victorian Railways Commissioner [1971] VR 360; Kondis v State Transport Authority (1984) 154 CLR 652; Lomas v Peek [1947] 2 AllER 574; Louinder v Stuckey [1984] 2 NSWLR 354; Majury v Sunbeam Corporation Ltd (1974) 1 NSWLR 659; May v O'Sullivan (1955) 92 CLR 654; Miller v Williams (1990) 53 SASR 82; Mount Albert Borough Council v Johnson [1979] 2 NZLR 234; Mousell Bros v London & North Western Railway [1917] 2 KB 836; Northern Sandblasting Pty Ltd v Harris (1995) 188 CLR 313; (1997) 71 ALJR 1428; 146 ALR 572; OConnor v Commissioner for Government Transport (1984) 100 CLR 255; Perl Exporting Ltd v Camden LBC [1984] 154 CLR 652; R v Winson [1969] 1 QB 371; Re Newland (1997) 98 A Crim R 455 CCA; Regina v Lonie & Anor [1999] NSWCCA 319; Rickard v Smith (1861) 142 ER 535; Rylands v Fletcher [1866] LR 1 Ex.265; Smith v Lewis (1945) 70 CLR 256; State Pollution Control Commission v Taylor Woodrow (Australia) Pty Ltd (1997) 101 LGERA 226; Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Company Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 16; Stoneman v Lyons (1975) 8 ALR 173; Taylor Woodrow Homes Builders Pty Ltd v Chitarra (Full Court of Supreme Court of Western Australia, 30 December 1994, unreported); Tiger Nominees Pty Ltd v State Pollution Control Commission (1992) 25 NSWLR 715; Torrette House Pty Ltd v Berkman (1940) 62 CLR 637; Vabu Pty Ltd v The Commissioner of Taxation (Court of Appeal, 6 September 1996, unreported); Whitham v Shire of Bright [1959] VR 790; Wilsons and Clyde Coal Co Ltd v English [1938] AC 57; [1937] 3 AllER 628; Clean Waters Act 1970 s 16(1),(2); Environmental Offences & Penalties Act 1989; Interpretation Act 1987 s 30(1); CASES CITED: Occupational Health & Safety Act 1993; Protection of the Environment Operations (Savings and Transitional) Regulations 1998 cl 17(1); Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 s 215, Sch 5; Adelaide Corporation v Australasian Performing Rights Association (1928) 40 CLR 481; Alphacell Ltd v Woodward [1972] AC 824; Attorney-General v Geothermal Produce NZ Ltd [1987] 2 NZLR 348; Australian Iron & Steel Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1992) 29 NSWLR 497 CCA; Bartonshill Coal Co v McGuire (1858) 3 Macq 300; Bathurst City Council v Environment Protection Authority (1995) 89 LGERA 79; Boral Roof Tiles Ltd v O'Brien (Court of Appeal, 15 December 1994, unreported); Broad v Parish (1941) 64 CLR 588; Brownlie v State Pollution Control Commission (1992) 27 NSW 78; Burnie Ports Authority v General Jones Pty Ltd (1994) 179 CLR 520; Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd v Producers and Citizens Co-operative Assurance Co of Australia Ltd (1931) 46 CLR 41; D & F Estates & Ors v Church Commissioners for England & Ors [1989] 1 AC 177; Dalton v Angus Co (1881) 6 App Cas 740; Darling Island Stevedoring & Lighterage Co Ltd v Long (1957) 97CLR 36; Davie v New Merton Board Mills Ltd [1959] AC 604; Dorset Yacht Co Ltd v Home Office [1970] AC 1004; Environment Agency v Empress Car Co (Abertillery) Ltd [1998] 2 WLR 35; [1998] AllER 481 HL; Environment Protection Authority v Munters Pty Ltd (1998) 98 LGERA 279; Environment Protection Authority v Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation Ltd (1994) 83 LGERA 51; Gibb v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1956) 118 CLR 628; Hetherington v Mirvac Pty Ltd [1999] NSWSC 443; Honeywill & Stein Ltd v Larkin Brothers Ltd [1934] 1 KB 191; [1933] AllER 77; Humberstone v Northern Timber Mills (1949) 79 CLR 389; Karatzidis v Victorian Railways Commissioner [1971] VR 360; Kondis v State Transport Authority (1984) 154 CLR 652; Lomas v Peek [1947] 2 AllER 574; Louinder v Stuckey [1984] 2 NSWLR 354; Majury v Sunbeam Corporation Ltd (1974) 1 NSWLR 659; May v O'Sullivan (1955) 92 CLR 654; Miller v Williams (1990) 53 SASR 82; Mount Albert Borough Council v Johnson [1979] 2 NZLR 234; Mousell Bros v London & North Western Railway [1917] 2 KB 836; Northern Sandblasting Pty Ltd v Harris (1995) 188 CLR 313; (1997) 71 ALJR 1428; 146 ALR 572; OConnor v Commissioner for Government Transport (1984) 100 CLR 255; Perl Exporting Ltd v Camden LBC [1984] 154 CLR 652; R v Winson [1969] 1 QB 371; Re Newland (1997) 98 A Crim R 455 CCA; Regina v Lonie & Anor [1999] NSWCCA 319; Rickard v Smith (1861) 142 ER 535; Rylands v Fletcher [1866] LR 1 Ex.265; Smith v Lewis (1945) 70 CLR 256; State Pollution Control Commission v Taylor Woodrow (Australia) Pty Ltd (1997) 101 LGERA 226; Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Company Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 16; Stoneman v Lyons (1975) 8 ALR 173; Taylor Woodrow Homes Builders Pty Ltd v Chitarra (Full Court of Supreme Court of Western Australia, 30 December 1994, unreported); Tiger Nominees Pty Ltd v State Pollution Control Commission (1992) 25 NSWLR 715; Torrette House Pty Ltd v Berkman (1940) 62 CLR 637; Vabu Pty Ltd v The Commissioner of Taxation (Court of Appeal, 6 September 1996, unreported); Whitham v Shire of Bright [1959] VR 790; Wilsons and Clyde Coal Co Ltd v English [1938] AC 57; [1937] 3 AllER 628; Chin B, Losing Control: The difference between employees and independent contractors after Vabu v Commissioner of Taxation (1996) 34 Law Society Journal (No 10), p 52.; Kirby J, On the writing of judgements, 64 ALJ 691. DATES OF HEARING: 27/10/99; 28/10/99; 08/11/99; 10/11/99; 12/11/99; 15/11/99; 16/11/99; 17/11/99; 18/11/99; 19/11/99; 22/11/99; 23/11/99; 24/11/99; 25/11/99; 26/11/99; 29/11/99; 30/11/99; 01/12/99; 02/12/99; 07/12/99; 08/12/99; 09/12/99; 10/12/99; 13/12/99; 14/12/99; 15/12/99; 16/12/99 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 03/24/2000