Environment Protection Authority v Ableway Waste Management Pty Limited & Anor [2005] NSWLEC 469

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Environment Protection Authority v Ableway Waste Management Pty Limited & Anor [2005] NSWLEC 469

APPLICANT: Environment Protection Authority

FIRST RESPONDENT: PARTIES : Ableway Waste Management Pty Limited

SECOND RESPONDENT: Charles Xhiat Song Tsaur

FILE NUMBER(S) : 40544 of 2004

CORAM: Lloyd J

Contempt :- contempt of court - plea of guilty - penalty - purpose of - relevant considerations - impecunious defendant - effect of bankruptcy on fine - contempt of court amounts to "an offence against a law" within the meaning of s 82(3) of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) - mitigating factors

Fines and Penalties:- Fines Act 1996 (NSW) applies to penalties for contempt of court

KEY ISSUES: Bankruptcy:- bankrupt fined - whether fine provable in the bankruptcy

Words and Phrases:- "offence" - "a law" - "offence against a law"

Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) s 60 and s 82(3) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) s 21A LEGISLATION CITED: Fines Act 1996 (NSW) s 4 and s 6 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 s 67(d) Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) s 252

Attorney General (NSW) v Whiley (1993) 31 NSWLR 314; Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union v Mudginberri Station Pty Ltd (1986) 161 CLR 98; Australian Winch and Haulage Co Pty Ltd v State Debt Recovery Office [2005] NSWSC 423; Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357; Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683; Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Mayo-Ramsay) (2000) 49 NSWLR 61; Environment Protection Authority v Port Kembla Copper Pty Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 124; Environment Protection Authority v Richardson; Environment Protection Authority v Behnfeld [2002] NSWLEC 205; Environment Protection Authority v Thaler [2005] NSWLEC 109; Fletcher Construction Australia Limited v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Fisher) (1999) 91 IR 66 at 77-81; Hannah v Wonar Pty Ltd (1992) 34 AILR 337; Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464; CASES CITED: Marshall v State of Western Australia (1998) 84 FCR 363; Mathers v The Commonwealth (2004) 134 FCR 135; Palechowski v Registrar of the Court of Appeal (1999) 198 CLR 435; Principal Registrar of the Supreme Court (NSW) v Jando (2001) 53 NSWLR 527; R v Morgan (2003) 57 NSWLR 533; R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; Registrar, Court of Appeal (NSW) v Maniam (No 2) (1992) 26 NSWLR 309; Smith v The Queen (1991) 25 NSWLR 1; State of Victoria v Mansfield (2003) 130 FCL 376, (2003) 199 ALR 395; Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525; Wood v Staunton (No.5) (1996) ACrimR 138; WorkCover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Kelsey) v University of Sydney [1977] NSWIRComm 44