Environment Protection Authority v P&M Quality Smallgoods Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v JBS Australia Pty Limited [2017] NSWLEC 89

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v P&M Quality Smallgoods Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v JBS Australia Pty Limited [2017] NSWLEC 89 Hearing dates: 14 June 2017 Date of orders: 21 July 2017 Decision date: 21 July 2017 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Robson J Decision: See orders at [114] Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES – sentences – co-defendants – discharge of effluent waste to unlicensed point and into creek – contravention of licence condition – water pollution – actual and likely harm – practical measures available to prevent incident occurring – licence contravention not committed negligently or recklessly – offences reasonably foreseeable – top of the low range of objective seriousness – offences not committed for financial gain – defendants of good corporate character – defendants showed remorse – general and specific deterrence – totality principle applies – defendants ordered to pay amount to Environmental Trust – defendants ordered to publicise offences and sentence in newspapers – defendants ordered to pay prosecutor's legal and investigation costs Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A, 22 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 275N Environmental Trust Act 1995 (NSW) Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), ss 3, 64, 120, 169C, 241, 248, 250, 258 Cases Cited: Alexander Cittadini v R [2009] NSWCCA 302 Andrews v Director of Public Prosecutions [1937] AC 576 Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Barbaro v The Queen; Zirilli v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 58; [2014] HCA 2 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Limited [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Burwood Council v Erector Group Pty Ltd; Burwood Council v Liverpool Developing Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 20 Cameron v Eurobodalla Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 47; (2006) 146 LGERA 349 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Kurstjens; Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Topview Brisbane Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 54 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Orica Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Orica Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 109 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Rummery [2012] NSWLEC 271; (2012) 192 LGERA 314 Council of the City of Sydney v Adams [2015] NSWLEC 206 Environment Protection Authority v Baidia Poultry Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 280; (2008) 163 LGERA 71 Environment Protection Authority v Ballina Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 289; (2006) 148 LGERA 278 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Borg Panels Pty Ltd [2016] NSWLEC 71 Environment Protection Authority v Centennial Newstan Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 211 Environment Protection Authority v Coe Drilling Australia Pty Ltd [2005] NSWLEC 719 Environment Protection Authority v Custom Chemicals Pty Ltd [2016] NSWLEC 146 Environmental Protection Authority v Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 64 Environment Protection Authority v Elf Farm Supplies Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 60 Environment Protection Authority v Hardt Environment Protection Authority v Hunter Water Corporation [2016] NSWLEC 76 Environment Protection Authority v Huntsman Corporation Australia Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 39 Environment Protection Authority v Le Dome Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 167; (2002) 125 LGERA 121 Environment Protection Authority v M A Roche Group Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 29 Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (Nitric Acid Air Lift Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 103; (2014) 206 LGERA 239 Environment Protection Authority v Queanbeyan City Council (No 3) [2012] NSWLEC 220; (2012) 192 LGERA 415 Environment Protection Authority v Robinson [2004] NSWLEC 629 Environment Protection Authority v Snowy Hydro Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 264; (2008) 162 LGERA 273 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2015] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Tea Garden Farms Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 89 Environment Protection Authority v Truegain Pty Limited (No 4) [2014] NSWLEC 179; (2014) 206 LGERA 11 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Gittany Constructions Pty Limited v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Green v R; Quinn v R (2011) 244 CLR 462; [2011] HCA 49 Gordon Plath of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Fish; Gordon Plath v Orogen Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 144; (2010) 179 LGERA 386 Liverpool City Council v Leppington Pastoral Co Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 170 Markarian v R (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Newcastle City Council v Pace Farm Egg Products Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 66 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v De Simoni (1981) 147 CLR 383; [1981] HCA 31 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Overall (1993) 71 A Crim R 170 R v Taktak (1988) 14 NSWLR 226 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 Veen v R (1979) 143 CLR 458; [1979] HCA 7 Veen v R (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) P&M Quality Smallgoods Pty Ltd (Defendant) JBS Australia Pty Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: P J English (Prosecutor) C R Ireland with J Wyner (Defendants)