Safe Work NSW v Essential Energy P/L [2016] NSWDC 219

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Safe Work NSW v Essential Energy P/L [2016] NSWDC 219 Hearing dates: 18 August 2016 Date of orders: 02 September 2016 Decision date: 02 September 2016 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Judge AC Scotting Decision: 1 I impose a fine of $300,000. 2 I order pursuant to section 122(2) Fines Act 1996 that 50% of the fine is to be paid to the prosecutor. 3 I order that the offender pay the prosecutor's costs agreed in the sum of $30,000. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – prosecution – work health and safety – duty of persons undertaking business – duty of employers – risk of death or serious injury – death of employee SENTENCE – mitigating factors – aggravating factors – fine – capacity to pay – circumstances – objective seriousness – specific deterrence – general deterrence – appropriate penalty SENTENCE PRINCIPLES – parity – totality – community values – remorse – contrition – onerous penalty – extra curial punishment – weight of victim impact statements COSTS – prosecution costs Legislation Cited: Work Health and Safety Act 2011 ss.19, 32 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 ss.3, 3A, 21A(2)(d), 21A(2)(g), 21A(3)(f), 21A(3)(g), 21A(3)(i), 21A(3)(k), 21A(3)(m), 22, 22A, 27, 28(4), 29, 30, 30A Fines Act 1996 ss. 6, 122(2) Cases Cited: Veen v R (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465 R v McNaughton (2006) 66 NSWLR 566 Baumer v R (1988) 166 CLR 51 BW v R [2011] NSWCCA 176 R v Wilkinson (No 5) [2009] NSWSC 432 Capral Aluminium Limted v Workcover Authority of New South Wales (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 R v Thomson & Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Borkowski (2009) 195 A Crim R 1 Bulga Underground Operations Pty Ltd v Nash [2016] NSWCCA 37 Category: Sentence Parties: Safe Work NSW (Prosecutor) Essential Energy P/L (Offender) Representation: Counsel: Mr C Magee (Prosecutor) Mr Y Shariff (Offender)