Environment Protection Authority v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 246

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 246 Hearing dates: 7 December 2011 Decision date: 09 December 2011 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Sheahan J Decision: The court notes that: 1. The prosecutor notified the defendant of the court's findings and orders on the prosecutor's motion on contempt, made 13 October 2011, including the order fixing the further hearing on conviction and sentence for 7 and 8 December 2011; and 2. The defendant did not appear when its name was called at the commencement of the penalty hearing on 7 December 2011. And the court orders that: 3. The defendant is convicted of contempt. 4. The defendant is fined the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000). 5. The defendant is to pay the prosecutor's costs, from and including 14 October 2011, on an indemnity basis, as agreed or assessed. 6. All exhibits, except Exhibit P6 , be returned. Catchwords: CONTEMPT: Sentencing, "contumacious" contempt, claims of impecuniosity or insolvency not supported by evidence, indemnity costs Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 Protection Environment Operations Act 1997 Supreme Court Rules 1970 Cases Cited: ASIC v Edwards [2005] NSWSC 831; (2005) 54 ACSR 583 ASIC v Sigalla (No.4) [2011] NSWSC 62 Environment Protection Authority v Ramey Food Processing Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 23 Environment Protection Authority v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 150 EPA v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd (No 2) [2010] NSWLEC 175 Environment Protection Authority v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd ACN 082 062 468 (No.3) [2011] NSWLEC 180 Environment Protection Authority v Pannowitz (No.2) [2006] NSWLEC 797; (2006) 153 LGERA 126 Fair Work Ombudsman v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 1176 Gerondal v Eurobodalla Shire Council (No 5) [2011] NSWLEC 104 Gerondal v Eurobodalla Shire Council (No 6) [2011] NSWLEC 132 Jeray v Blue Mountains City Council [2011] NSWLEC 28 Lewis v Doran [2004] NSWSC 608; (2004) 208 ALR 385 Lewis v Doran (2005) 219 ALR 555 Markarian v R [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 McIlwain v Ramsey Food Packaging Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 828 McIlwain v Ramsey Food Packaging Pty Ltd (No.4) [2006] FCA 1302 Mosman Council v Kelly (No 6) [2010] NSWLEC 20 Pang v Bydand Holdings Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 69 Pelechowski v Registrar, Court of Appeal (NSW) [1999] HCA 19; (1999) 198 CLR 43 Registrar of the Court of Appeal v Maniam (No. 2) (1992) 26 NSWLR 309 Sandell v Porter (1966) 115 CLR 666 Sharrment Pty Ltd v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (1988) 18 FCR 449 Council of the City of Sydney v Owners Corporation - Strata Plan 18945 [2011] NSWLEC 79 Williams (as liquidator of Scholtz Motor Group Pty Ltd) (in liq) v Scholz [2008] QCA 94 Wily v Terra Cresta Business Solutions Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 1042 Wood v Staunton (No 5) (1996) 86 A Crim R 183 Wormall Pty Ltd v Marchese Investments Pty Ltd [2009] WADC 102; (2009) 66 SR (WA) 56 Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Agency (Prosecutor) Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Mr A Hill, Solicitor (Prosecutor) No Appearance (Defendant) Office of Environment and Heritage (Prosecutor) No Appearance (Defendant) File Number(s): 50069 of 2009