Bentley v Gordon [2005] NSWLEC 695

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Bentley v Gordon [2005] NSWLEC 695

PROSECUTOR Jason Robert Bentley

PARTIES : DEFENDANTS Hugh Charles Gordon

FILE NUMBER(S) : 50070 of 2005

CORAM: Preston CJ

Prosecution :- Picking a threatened species of plant - Plea of guilty - Objective circumstances - Seriousness of environmental harm - Defendant's state of mind - Reasons for committing the offence - Mitigating circumstances. KEY ISSUES: Environmental Offences.

Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 3A ((a), (b), (e), (f) and (g)), s 4(1), s 17, s 18(1) s 19(1), s 21A(2)(g), s 21A(3)(e), s 21A(3)(i), s 22 s 23(1), cl 45(2) of schedule 2 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 pt 5 of Chapter 4, s 254 LEGISLATION CITED: Fines Act 1996 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 s 41, s 21(i) National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 s 5, s 118A(2) s 118A(2)(b), 118A(3), s 175(1), 176(1) Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 s 4, s 14

Axer Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority [1993] 113 LGERA 357; Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority [1993] 32 NSWLR 683; Director General, National Parks and Wildlife v Wilkinson [2002] NSWLEC 171; Environment Protection Authority v Ampol [1995] NSWLEC 16 (22 February 1995); Environment Protection Authority v Brir Pty Limited [1995] NSWLEC 15 (22 February 1995); Environment Protection Authority v Capdate Pty Limited [1993] 78 LGERA 349; Hansford v His Honour Judge Neesham [1995] 2 VR 233; Hoare v R [1989] 167 CLR 348; Ibbs v R [1987] 163 CLR 447; Law v Deed [1970] SASR 374; Lloyd J.R v Jobson [1989] 2 QR 464; Majury v Sunbeam Corporation Ltd (1974) 1 NSWLR 659; CASES CITED: Mickelberg (1994) 13 A Crim R 365; Neal v R (1982) 149 CLR 305; R v Cameron [2002] 209 CLR 339; R v Gallagher (1991) 23 NSWLR 220; R v H [1980] 3 A Crim R 53; R v Morabito (1992) 62 A Crim R 82; R v Oliver [1987] A Crim R 174; R v Rushby [1977] 1 NSWLR 594; R v Sharma [2002] 54 NSWLR 300; R v Thomson (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; 115 A Crim R 104; Veen v R No 1 [1979] 143 CLR 458; Veen v R No 2 [1988] 164 CLR 465; Wong v R [2001] 207 CLR 584