Newcastle Port Corporation v MS Magdalene Schiffahrtsgesellschaft MBH; Newcastle Port Corporation v Vazhnenko [2013] NSWLEC 210

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Newcastle Port Corporation v MS Magdalene Schiffahrtsgesellschaft MBH; Newcastle Port Corporation v Vazhnenko [2013] NSWLEC 210 Hearing dates: 12 and 13 June 2013 Decision date: 11 December 2013 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Sheahan J Decision: In Matter No 12/50522 (1) The Court finds the offence proved. (2) The defendant is convicted of the charge set out in the summons. (3) The defendant is fined the sum of $1.2 million. In Matter No 12/50523 (4) The Court finds the offence proved. (5) Pursuant to s 10(1)(a) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, I direct that no conviction be recorded, and that the proceedings be dismissed. In Matters Nos 12/50522 - 50523 (6) The defendant MS Magdalene Schiffahrtsgesellschaft MBH is ordered to pay the Prosecutor's costs of both proceedings on a party-party basis, as agreed or assessed, and to pay the Prosecutor's reasonable investigation expenses. (7) With the exception of Exhibit P1, all exhibits may be returned. Catchwords: PROSECUTION: Marine pollution offences by ship in Newcastle Harbour - admissions of guilt predating the summonses - pleas of guilty - sentencing principles - no truly comparable cases - aggravating and mitigating factors. Legislation Cited: Clean Waters Act 1970 Crimes Act 1900 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Fisheries Management Act 1994 Marine Pollution Act 1987 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 Victims Compensation Act 1996 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Blue Mountains City Council v Carlon [2008] NSWLEC 296 Blue Mountains City Council v Tzannes [2009] NSWLEC 19 Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority [2001] NSWCCA 280; (2001) 115 LGERA 304 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683; 82 LGERA 21 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Bombala Investments Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 185 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet v Powell [2012] NSWLEC 129 Chow v Director of Public Prosecutions (1992) 28 NSWLR 593 Cobiac v Liddy (1969) 119 CLR 257 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Roslyndale Shipping Pty Ltd [2003] NSWCCA 356 Environmental Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Big River Group Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Boral Australian Gypsum Ltd [2009] NSWLEC 26 Environment Protection Authority v Orange City Council [1995] NSWLEC 103 Environment Protection Authority v Ravensworth Operations Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 222 Environment Protection Authority v Timber Industries Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 25 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Filipowski v Bak and Anor [2004] NSWLEC 498 Filipowski v Fratelli D'Amato S.r.1 and others [2000] NSWLEC 50; (2000) 108 LGERA 88 Filipowski v Hemina Holdings S.A.; Filipowski v Rajagopalan (No 2) [2009] NSWLEC 104 Filipowski v Lyndon and ADI [2001] NSWLEC139 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 Schiffsbeteiligungsges m.b.H. & Co KG; Filipowski v Kleemann [2004] NSWLEC 207, (2004) 134 LGERA 48 Filipowski v Thorneloe [2000] NSWLEC 269; (2000) 112 LGERA 184 Filipowski v Vopak Terminals Sydney Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 104 Garrett v Freeman (No 5); Garrett v Port Macquarie Hastings Council; Carter v Port Macquarie Hastings Council [2009] NSWLEC 1; (2009) 164 LGERA 287 Garrett v Williams [2006] NSWLEC 785; (2006) 160 LGERA 115 Gittany v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Graham v The Queen [2009] NSWCCA 212 Hardt v Environment Protection Authority [2007] NSWCCA 338; (2007) 156 LGERA 337 House v R (1936) 55 CLR 499 Hunter Water Board v State Rail Authority of New South Wales [No 2] (1992) 75 LGRA 22 Ibbs v The Queen (1987) 163 CLR 447 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mickelberg v The Queen (1984) 13 A Crim R 365 Morrison v Che Mat and others (1997) 95 LGERA 212 Morrison v Defence Maritime Services Pty Ltd and Coates [2007] NSWLEC 421 Morrison v Peacock [2002] HCA 44; (2002) 210 CLR 274 Morrison v Peacock and Roslyndale Shipping Co Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 68 Muldrock v The Queen [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v Ellis (1986) 6 NSWLR 603 R v Gent [2005] NSWCCA 370; (2005) 162 A Crim R 29 R v McNaughton [2006] NSWCCA 242; (2006) 66 NSWLR 566 R v Mako [2004] NSWCCA 90 R v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54, (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v O'Neill [1979] 2 NSWLR 582 R v Palu (2002) 134 A Crim R 174 R v Peel [1971] 1 NSWLR 247 R v Borkowski [2009] NSWCCA 102 R v Sharma [2002] NSWCCA 142; (2002) 54 NSWLR 300 R v Slattery (1996) 90 A Crim R 519 R v Smith (1982) 7 A Crim R 437 R v Storey [1998] 1 VR 359 R v Sukkar [2006] NSWCCA 92 R v Sutton [2004] NSWCCA 225 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v United Keno Hill Mines Ltd (1980) 1 YR 299 R v Way [2004] NSWCCA 131; (2004) 60 NSWLR 168 R v Wisbey [2001] NSWCCA 434 R v Gallagher (1991) 23 NSWLR 220 Ryan v The Queen [2001] HCA 21; (2001) 206 CLR 267 SZ v The Queen [2007] NSWCCA 19; (2007) 168 A Crim R 249 Thewlis v R [2008] NSWCCA 176 Thorneloe v Filipowski [2001] NSWCCA 213; (2001) 52 NSWLR 60 Tiger Nominees Pty Ltd v State Pollution Control Commission (1992) 25 NSWLR 715; 75 LGRA 71 Veen v The Queen [1979] HCA 7; (1979) 143 CLR 458 Veen v The Queen (No 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Warringah Council v Bonanno [2012] NSWLEC 265 Webb v Chung & Ors [2002] NSWLEC 135 Weininger v The Queen [2003] HCA 14; (2003) 212 CLR 629 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Matter No 50522 of 2013 Newcastle Port Corporation (Prosecutor) MS Magdalene Schiffahrtsgesellschaft MBH (Defendant) Matter No 50523 of 2013 Newcastle Port Corporation (Prosecutor) Volodymyr Vazhnenko (Defendant) Representation: E G H Cox, Barrister (Prosecutor) G J Nell SC (Defendants) Piper Alderman (Prosecutor) James Neill Solicitors (Defendants) File Number(s): 50522 of 2012 50523 of 2012