Wilson v Department of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2016] NSWSC 1458

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Wilson v Department of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2016] NSWSC 1458 Hearing dates: 29 September 2016 Date of orders: 14 October 2016 Decision date: 14 October 2016 Before: Schmidt J Decision: (1) Leave to appeal is granted. (2) The appeal is dismissed. Catchwords: APPEAL – leave to appeal and appeal against Local Court decision – leave to appeal granted – offence under s 316(1) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) – whether the offence charged is valid – whether an offence under s 81 is a "serious indictable offence" as defined in s 4 of the Crimes Act – whether the evidence is incapable of proving the offence charged - whether the appeal raises a question of law alone – s 53(3)of the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW) – established – appeal dismissed

STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – s 81 Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) – s 316(1) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) – s 580 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Crimes (Amendment) Act 1984 (NSW) Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW) Criminal Code Act (Cth)1995 Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sentencing) Act 1999 (NSW) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Crimes (Public Justice) Amendment Act 1990 (NSW) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Cases Cited: Beckwith v R (1976) 135 CLR 569; [1976] HCA 55 Cody v JH Nelson Pty Ltd (1947) 74 CLR 629; [1947] HCA 17 DC v State of New South Wales [2010] NSWCA 15 Fisher v Hebburn Ltd (1960) 105 CLR 188; [1960] HCA 80 Goodwin v Phillips (1908) 7 CLR 1; [1908] HCA 55 Kostas v HIA Insurance Services Pty Limited (2010) 241 CLR 390; [2010] HCA 32 La Macchia v Minister for Primary Industry (1986) 72 ALR 23 Maxwell v Murphy (1957) 96 CLR 261; [1957] HCA 7 Project Blue Sky Inc v ABA (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Public Transport Commission (NSW) v J Murray-More (NSW) Pty Ltd (1975) 132 CLR 336; [1975] HCA 28 R v Wozniak (1989) 16 NSWLR 185 SAS Trustee Corporation v Woollard (2014) 86 NSWLR 367; [2014] NSWCA 75 Walton v Gardiner (1993) 177 CLR 378; [1993] HCA 77 Texts Cited: Macquarie Online Dictionary Second Reading Speech NSW, Parliamentary Debates, Legislative Assembly, 10 May 1984, 574 (Mr Wran) Second Reading Speech NSW, Parliamentary Debates, Legislative Assembly, 17 May 1990, 3691 (Mr Daud) Second Reading Speech NSW, Parliamentary Debates, Legislative Assembly, 28 October 1999, 2324 (Mr Debus) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Philip Edward Wilson (Applicant) Department of Public Prosecutions (NSW) – Sydney (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr B Walker SC with Mr S Buchen and Ms G Huxley (Applicant) Mr L Babb SC with Ms B Baker and Mr G Harrison (Respondent)