SafeWork NSW v ProjectCorp Australia Pty Limited [2017] NSWDC 169

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v ProjectCorp Australia Pty Limited [2017] NSWDC 169 Hearing dates: 13 June 2017 Date of orders: 22 June 2017 Decision date: 22 June 2017 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Judge D. Russell Decision: (1) The offender is convicted. (2) I impose a fine of $90,000. (3) I order pursuant to Section 122(2) of the Fines Act 1996 that 50% of the fine is to be paid to the prosecutor. (4) I order that the offender pay the prosecutor's costs agreed in the sum of $15,000. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – prosecution – work health and safety – duty of persons undertaking business – risk of death or serious injury

SENTENCE – objective seriousness – mitigating factors – aggravating factors – plea of guilty – general deterrence – specific deterrence – parity principle – appropriate penalty

SENTENCING PRINCIPLES – parity – totality – remorse – contrition – appropriate penalty

COSTS – prosecution costs

OTHER – need for clear prohibition on operating machinery in an unsafe manner – need for supervision to ensure machinery is not operated in an unsafe manner Legislation Cited: Work Health and Safety Act 2011; Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999; Fines Act 1996 Cases Cited: Veen v R (No. 2) (1998) 164 CLR; R v McNaughton (2006) 66 NSWLR 566; Baumer v R (1998) 166 CLR 51; BW v R [2011] NSWCCA 176; R v Wilkinson (No. 5) [2009] NSWSC 432; Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (2000) 49 NSWLR 610; Bulga Underground Operations Pty Limited v Nash [2016] NSWCCA 37; R v Thomson & Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; R v Borkowski (2009) 195 A Crim R 1; Jahandideh v R [2014] NSWCCA 178; Green v R [2011] HCA 49; DPP v Gregory [2011] VSCA 145; Jimmy v R (2010) 77 NSWLR 540; Markarian v R (2005) 228 CLR 357; WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Carmody) v Consolidated Constructions Pty Limited [2001] NSWIR Comm 263; (2001) 109 IR 316; Inspector Howard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Limited [2009] NSWIR Comm 92; (2009) 187 IR 125; Category: Sentence Parties: SafeWork NSW (Prosecutor); ProjectCorp Australia Pty Limited (Offender) Representation: Counsel: Ms P. McEniery (Prosecutor); Mr M. Cahill (Offender)