Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 8

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 8 Hearing dates: 23 May 2016 Date of orders: 20 February 2017 Decision date: 20 February 2017 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Sheahan J Decision: See paragraph [112] Catchwords: PROSECUTION: negligence causing escape of a petroleum product – air pollution – early plea of guilty to a "derivative" offence – limited environmental and human harm – moderate objective seriousness – relative culpability of company and an individual – sentencing principles – mitigating factors – assistance to authorities – contrition and remorse – fine applied to environmental projects – costs – publication orders. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Cases Cited: Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Environment Protection Authority v Ampol Ltd (1993) 81 LGERA 433 Environment Protection Authority v Orange City Council [1995] NSWLEC 103 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation (2006) 148 LGERA 299: [2006] NSWLEC 419 Ibbs v R (1987) 163 CLR 447; [1987] HCA 46 Jimmy v The Queen (2010) 77 NSWLR 540; [2010] NSWCCA 60 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Newcastle Port Corporation v MS Magdalene Schiffahrtsgesellschaft MBH; Newcastle Port Corporation v Vazhnenko [2013] NSWLEC 210 Plath v Rawson (2009) 170 LGERA 253; [2009] NSWLEC 178 R v Joel Clayton Tory [2006] NSWCCA 18 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Tadrosse (2005) 65 NSWLR 740; [2005] NSWCCA 145 R v Thomson, R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 Veen v The Queen (1979) 143 CLR 458; [1979] HCA 7 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr T Howard SC, with Mr C Ireland, barrister (Prosecutor) Mr Walker SC, with Mr S Buchen, barrister (Defendant) Solicitors: Office of Environment and Heritage (Prosecutor) Norton Rose Fulbright Australia (Defendant) File Number(s): 2016/00151308