Geitonia Pty Ltd v Inner West Council; Gertos v Inner West Council [2016] NSWCCA 186

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Geitonia Pty Ltd v Inner West Council; Gertos v Inner West Council [2016] NSWCCA 186 Hearing dates: 25 May 2016 Date of orders: 24 August 2016 Decision date: 24 August 2016 Before: Price J at [1]; Garling J at [129]; N Adams J at [155] Decision: Appeals dismissed Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW - Procedure - Powers and duties of prosecution as to calling of witness and presenting evidence - application of prosecutorial duties to regulatory bodies and authorities - whether error of judgement or deliberate tactical decision made to not call material witness - whether failure to call material witness amounted to miscarriage of justice – distinction between evidence witness likely to give and might theoretically give – whether any disadvantage demonstrated – whether any unfairness occasioned ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING - building control - council consent and approval- whether development consent authorised demolition of façade Legislation Cited: Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 5AA, 5AB, 6 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), ss 76A, 80, 96, 125 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 38 Legal Profession Uniform Conduct (Barristers) Rules 2015 (NSW), rr 89, 90 Cases Cited: Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Hellicar (2012) 247 CLR 345; [2012] HCA 17 Burwood Council v Ralan Burwood Pty Ltd (No 3) [2014] NSWCA 404 Gilmour v Environment Protection Authority; Tableland Topdressing Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (2002) 55 NSWLR 593; [2002] NSWCCA 399 Leichhardt Council v Geitonia Pty Limited and Gertos [2015] NSWLEC 25 Leichhardt Council v Geitonia Pty Ltd (No 6) [2015] NSWLEC 51 R v Apostilides (1984) 154 CLR 563; [1984] HCA 38 R v Armstrong [1998] 4 VR 533 R v Jensen (2009) 23 VR 591; [2009] VSCA 266 R v Kneebone (1999) 47 NSWLR 450; [1999] NSWCCA 279 R v O'Brien (1996) 66 SASR 396 R v Shaw (1991) 57 A Crim R 425 R v Wilson [1997] QCA 244 Richardson v R (1974) 131 CLR 116; [1974] HCA 19 Subramaniam v R (2004) 79 ALJR 116; [2004] HCA 51 Tien Tran v Magistrates' Court of Victoria [1998] VSC 337 Whitehorn v R (1983) 152 CLR 657; [1983] HCA 42 Texts Cited: Christopher Corns, Public Prosecutions in Australia: Law, Policy and Practice, (2014, Lawbook Co) Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, "Prosecution Guidelines" http://www.odpp.nsw.gov.au/prosecution-guidelines Category: Principal judgment Parties: Bill Gertos (Applicant) Geitonia Pty Ltd (Applicant) Inner West Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T. Howard SC (Applicant) D. Buchanan SC (Respondent)