Inspector Spence v Austar Constructions Pty Ltd [2012] NSWIRComm 114

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Inspector Spence v Austar Constructions Pty Ltd [2012] NSWIRComm 114 Hearing dates: 20 August, 12, 26 September 2012 Decision date: 18 October 2012 Jurisdiction: Industrial Court of NSW Before: Staff J Decision: 1.The offence is proven and a verdict of guilty is entered. 2.The defendant is convicted of the offence, as charged. 3.The defendant is fined an amount of $50,000 with a moiety thereof to the prosecutor. 4.The defendant shall pay the prosecutor's costs of the proceedings in an amount as agreed, or if agreement cannot be reached, as assessed. Catchwords: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - prosecution under s 10(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 - construction industry - residential - fall through open penetration in building - serious injury - principles that court should apply where related offenders appear for sentence - desirability of co-offenders appearing for sentence before the same judge - application of the principles of parity - difficulty in applying principles where co-offenders sentenced by other judges discussed - general and specific deterrence - plea of guilty to amended application for order - maximum discount for utilitarian value of the plea - principles - penalty imposed - costs Legislation Cited: Fines Act 1996 Occupational Heath and Safety Act 2000 Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 (repealed) Cases Cited: Cameron v The Queen; R v S Y & Anor [2003] NSWCCA 291 Cameron v The Queen [2002] HCA 6; (2002) 209 CLR 339 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2000] NSWIRComm 71; (2000) 49 NSWLR 610; (2000) 49 IR 29 Department of Mineral Resources of NSW (McKensey) v Kembla Coal and Coke Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 8 Dwayhi v R; Bechara v R [2011] NSWCCA 67; 205 A Crim R 274 Fidoto Pty Limited v Inspector Patton [2010] NSWIRComm 171; (2010) 200 IR 41 Fletcher Construction Australia Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Fisher) (1999) 91 IR 66 Green v The Queen; Quinn v The Queen [2011] HCA 49; (2011) 244 CLR 462 Inspector Ching v Hy-Tec Industries Pty Ltd [2010] NSWIRComm 73 Inspector Spence v Aleksic Carpentry Pty Ltd [2012] NSWIRComm 45 Inspector Spence v Shang [2012] NSWIRComm 86 Jimmy v The Queen [2010] NSWCCA 60; (2010) 77 NSWLR 540 Lowe v The Queen [1984] HCA 46; (1984) 154 CLR 606 Morrison v Coal Operations Australia Ltd (No 2) [2005] NSWIRComm 96; (2005) 141 IR 465 Postiglione v R [1997] HCA 26; (1997) 189 CLR 295; (1997) 145 ALR 408; (1997) 71 ALJR 875 Rodney Morrison v Wambo Coal Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 189 R v Chandler; Chandler v R [2012] NSWCCA 135 R v Gorman [2002] NSWCCA 516; (2002) 137 A Crim R 326 R v Sukkar [2011] NSWCCA 140 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 Warman International v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (1998) 80 IR 326 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Carmody) v Consolidated Constructions Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 263; (2001) 109 IR 316 WorkCover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Howard) v Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd [2009] NSWIRComm 92; (2009) 186 IR 125 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector McMartin) v Transfield Pty Ltd t/a Transfield Maintenance (No 2) [2001] NSWIRComm 289; (2001) 110 IR 160 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ronald John Spence (Prosecutor) Austar Constructions Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr MJ Moir (Prosecutor) Mrs W Thompson (Defendant) Solicitors: WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Prosecutor) Westside Law Firm (Defendant) File Number(s): IRC 1395 of 2011