Filipowski v Hemina Holdings S.A.; Filipowski v Rajagopalan (No 2) [2009] NSWLEC 104

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Filipowski v Hemina Holdings S.A.; Filipowski v Rajagopalan (No 2) [2009] NSWLEC 104

PROSECUTOR Barbara Filipowski PARTIES : DEFENDANTS Hemina Holdings S.A. (08/50059) Swaminathan Rajagopalan (08/50060)

FILE NUMBER(S) : 50059 of 2008; 50060 of 2008

CORAM: Pain J

KEY ISSUES: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES :- Marine Pollution Act s 8 - discharge of oil from ship at Port Botany - plea of guilty by owner and master - dispute as to extent of oil spilled - whether defendants took all necessary measures to prevent, abate and mitigate extent of the oil spill - whether defendants acted in breach of ship's oil pollution emergency plan (SOPEP) - whether ship adequately maintained - potential for serious environmental harm - application of s 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act to discharge master with good behaviour bond - mitigating factors in favour of owner - whether utilitarian value in early guilty plea reduced where contested sentence hearing

Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 3A, 10, 17, 21A LEGISLATION CITED: Marine Pollution Act 1987 s 8 Marine Legislation Amendment (Marine Pollution) Act 2002 (repealed)

Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority (2001) 115 LGERA 304 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protectection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Environmental Protection Authority v Timber Industries Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 25 Filipowski v Cadem Shipping Pty Limited [2005] NSWLEC 552 Filipowski v Fratelli D'Amato (2000) 108 LGERA 88 Filipowski v Hemina Holdings S.A; Filipowski v Rajagopalan [2009] NSWLEC 78 Filipowski v Island Maritime Ltd (2006) 153 LGERA 1 Filipowski v Magnavia Schiffahrtsgesellschaft MBH & Co Kommanditgesellschaft, Pablo Dion and Suzanic Branco [2007] NSWLEC 404 Filipowski v Mediterranean Shipping Company SA [2005] NSWLEC 159 Filipowski v Vopak Terminals Sydney Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 104 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council (2006) 145 LGERA 189 CASES CITED: Markarian v R (2005) 228 CLR 357 Morrison v Ausmarine Fisheries (1995) 88 LGERA 442 Morrison v Che Mat (1997) 95 LGERA 212 Morrison v Defence Maritime Services Pty Ltd [2007] NSWLEC 421 Morrison v Peacock and Roslyndale Shipping Company Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 68 R v Borkowski [2009] NSWCCA 102 R v O'Neill [1979] 2 NSWLR 582 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v Slattery (1996) 90 A Crim R 519 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 SZ v The Queen (2007) 168 A Crim R 249 Thorneloe v Filipowski (2001) 52 NSWLR 60 Valle v Morrison (New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal, Gleeson CJ, Allen and Sully JJ, 22 November 1995, unreported)