POWERCOAL PTY LTD & Peter Lamont FOSTER v INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION OF NSW & Rodney Dale MORRISON [2005] NSWCA 345

156 A Crim R 269 Reported Decision : 64 NSWLR 406 145 IR 327

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: POWERCOAL PTY LTD & Peter Lamont FOSTER v INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION OF NSW & Rodney Dale MORRISON [2005] NSWCA 345

HEARING DATE(S): 12 and 13 July 2005, 19 and 20 July 2005,

JUDGMENT DATE: 10 October 2005

JUDGMENT OF: Spigelman CJ at 1; Mason P at 126; Handley JA at 127

DECISION: Each summons dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - whether Chapter III of the Commonwealth Constitution prevents the conferral of criminal jurisdiction on the Industrial Relations Commission - application of the Kable doctrine. - CRIMINAL LAW - criminal standard of proof - whether applied - OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - appeal against acquittal - proper construction of ss 50, 53 of the OHS Act - whether s197A of the OHS Act properly applied - ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - privative clause - inviolable restraint - jurisdictional error - error of law on the face of the record

Coal Mining Regulation Act 1982 (NSW) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED: Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Occupational Health & Safety Act 1983 (NSW) Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Cth)

Fardon v Attorney General (Qld) [2004] HCA 46; 78 ALJR 1519 Harling v Hall (1997) 94 A Crim R 437 Holpitt Pty Ltd v Swaab (1992) 33 FCR 474 Hookham v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 450 Kable v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (1996) 189 CLR 51 King v Natville Liquors Limited [1922] 2 AC 128 Lions v Taylor [1999] WASCA 86 Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs v SGLB (2004) 78 ALJR 992 Mitchforce Pty Ltd v Industrial Relations Commission of NSW (2003) 57 NSWLR 212 Omnicon Video Pty Ltd v Kookaburra Productions Pty Ltd (1995) 13 ACLC 1795 CASES CITED: Plaintiff S157/2002 v The Commonwealth of Australia (2003) 211 CLR 476 R v Kirby; Ex parte Boilermakers Society of Australia (1956) 94 CLR 254 Re Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Applicant S20/2002 (2003) 77 ALJR 1165 Scott v Cawsey (1907) 5 CLR 132 Slivak v Lurgi (Australia) Pty Ltd (2001) 205 CLR 304 Tesco Supermarkets Limited v Mattrass [1972] AC 153 United States v Wiltberger Five Wheat. 76 (1820) Warren v Coombs (1979) 142 CLR 531 Waterside Workers Federation of Australia v J W Alexander Ltd (1918) 25 CLR 434 Woolworths Limited v Pallas Newco Pty Ltd (2004) 61 NSWLR 707 Workcover Authority of NSW (Inspector Charles) v Kirk Group Holdings Pty Ltd & Ano (2004) NSWIR Comm 207