Fordham v Environment Protection Authority [2018] NSWLEC 28

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Fordham v Environment Protection Authority [2018] NSWLEC 28 Hearing dates: 20 November 2017 Date of orders: 23 March 2018 Decision date: 23 March 2018 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Molesworth AJ Decision: See orders at [106] – [107] Catchwords: CIVIL ENFORCEMENT – investigation by regulator into transportation and application of waste to riverbank – persons notified of statutory requirement to attend place and answer questions – non-compliance with notices – whether applicants protected against self-incrimination with respect to special executive liability criminal proceedings – whether privilege against self-incrimination constitutes lawful excuse to refuse to answer questions – whether Court determination would constitute impermissible advisory opinion – whether applicants in breach of statute by failing to nominate place and time to answer questions – whether applicants in breach of statute by failing to attend and answer questions – whether Court should make orders to remedy alleged breaches Legislation Cited: Land and Environment Court Act 1979, ss 20, 22, 23, 71 Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991, s 7 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 115, 120, 142A, 143, 144, 169, 184, 203, 211, 212, 252, 319A; Chs 5, 7 and 8 Cases Cited: Attorney-General (NSW) v Quinn (1990) 170 CLR 1; [1990] HCA 21 Baulkham Hills Shire Council v Ko-veda Holiday Park Estate Ltd (2009) 167 LGERA 395; [2009] NSWCA 160 Blechynden v Bogumil (2011) 206 A Crim R 329; [2011] WASC 4 Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Refining Co Pty Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 477; [1993] HCA 74 Ganin v New South Wales Crime Commission (1993) 32 NSWLR 423 Great Lakes Council v Lani (2007) 158 LGERA 1; [2007] NSWLEC 681 Hamilton v Oades (1989) 166 CLR 486; [1989] HCA 21 Johnco Nominees Pty Ltd v Albury-Wodonga (New South Wales) Corporation [1977] 1 NSWLR 43 Lake Macquarie City Council v Australian Native Landscapes Pty Ltd (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 114 LDF Enterprises Pty Ltd v New South Wales [2017] NSWCA 89 Lee v New South Wales Crime Commission (2013) 251 CLR 196; [2013] HCA 39 Lee v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 455; [2014] HCA 20 Musumeci v Attorney General (NSW) (2003) 57 NSWLR 193; [2003] NSWCA 77 Parramatta Business Freedom Association Inc v Parramatta City Council (2012) 189 LGERA 58; [2012] NSWLEC 139 Plaintiff M61/2010E v Commonwealth (2010) 243 CLR 319; [2010] HCA 41 "R" v Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commissioner (2016) 256 CLR 459; [2016] HCA 8 R v Milakovic [2004] NSWCCA 199 Re Barrow [2017] HCA 47 Rose Bay Marina Pty Ltd v Minister for Urban Affairs & Planning (2002) 122 LGERA 255; [2002] NSWLEC 123 SD v New South Wales Crime Commission (2013) 84 NSWLR 456; [2013] NSWCA 48 Taikato v The Queen (1996) 186 CLR 454; [1996] HCA 28 Wong Pooh Yin v Public Prosecutor [1955] AC 93 X7 v Australian Crime Commission (2013) 248 CLR 92; [2013] HCA 29 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mr Bruce Fordham (First Applicant and First Cross-Respondent) Mr Andrew Leslie (Second Applicant and Second Cross-Respondent) Mr Yussef Fahda (Third Applicant and Third Cross-Respondent) Environment Protection Authority (Respondent and Cross-Applicant) Representation: Counsel: Mr T Game SC with Mr S Buchen and Dr S Berveling (Applicants and Cross-Respondents) Mr P English (Respondent and Cross-Applicant)