Environment Protection Authority v Whitehaven Coal Mining Limited [2019] NSWLEC 27

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Whitehaven Coal Mining Limited [2019] NSWLEC 27 Hearing dates: 13 March 2019 Date of orders: 18 March 2019 Decision date: 18 March 2019 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [277]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: plea of guilty by a company to offence of contravening a condition of its environment protection licence – sentencing principles – determination of the objective seriousness of the offence – consideration of the subjective circumstances of the defendant – use of and weight to be given to the good character of an environmental offender - examination of comparable cases – purpose of a publication order – manner and extent of publication notice – publication order made – monetary penalty imposed. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, s 3A Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 257B, 257G Environmental Trust Act 1998 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 64, 129(1), 148, 250(1)(e) Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Limited [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority [2001] NSWCCA 280; (2001) 115 LGERA 304 Cameron v The Queen [2002] HCA 6; (2002) 209 CLR 339 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Cessnock City Council v Quintaz Pty Limited; Cessnock City Council v McCudden [2010] NSWLEC 3; (2010) 172 LGERA 52 Chief Executive, Office of Environment & 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 Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority [2017 NSWCCA 302 Elias v The Queen [2013] HCA 31; (2013) 248 CLR 483 Environment Protection Authority v Ardent Leisure Ltd [2018] NSWLEC 36 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 8 Environment Protection Authority v Centennial Newstan Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 21 Environment Protection Authority v Ditchfield Contracting Pty Ltd [2018] NSWLEC 90 Environment 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 Environmental Treatment Solutions Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 160 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna [2018] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Hunter Valley Energy Coal Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 120 Environment Protection Authority v Huntsman Corporation Australia Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 39 Environment Protection Authority v Incitec Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 381; (2003) 131 LGERA 176 Environment Protection Authority v Morgan Cement International Pty Ltd [2016] NSWLEC 140 Environment Protection Authority v Nulon Products Australia Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 153 Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Nitric Acid Air Lift Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 103; (2014) 206 LGERA 239 Environment Protection Authority v P & M Quality Small Goods Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v JBS Australia Pty Limited [2017] NSWLEC 89 Environment Protection Authority v Robinson [2004] NSWLEC 629 Environment Protection Authority v Wambo Coal Pty Ltd [2016] NSWLEC 125 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Environment Protection Authority v Wattke; Environment Protection Authority v Geerdink [2010] NSWLEC 24 Environmental Protection Authority v Causmag Ore Company Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 58 Harris v Harrison [2014] NSWCCA 84; (2014) 86 NSWLR 422 Hoare v The Queen [1989] HCA 33; (1989) 167 CLR 348 Liverpool City Council v Leppington Pastoral [2010] NSWLEC 170 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Morton v R [2014] NSWCCA 8 Mouawad v The Hills Shire Council [2013] NSWLEC 165; (2013) 199 LGERA 28 Muldrock v The Queen [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 Newcastle City Council v Pace Farm Egg Products Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 66 Newcastle Port Corporation v MS Magdalene Schiffarhtsgesellschaft MBH; Newcastle Port Corporation v Vazhnenko [2013] NSWLEC 210 Obeid v R (No 12) [2016] NSWSC 1815 Plath v Fish; Plath v Orogen Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 144; (2010) 179 LGERA 386 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v Kennedy [2000] NSWCCA 527 R v MacIntyre (1988) 38 A Crim R 135 R v Nichols (1991) 57 A Crim R 391 R v Oliver (1980) 7 A Crim R 174 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 Ryan v The Queen [2001] HCA 21; (2001) 206 CLR 267 Veen v The Queen (No 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Veen v The Queen [1979] HCA 7; (1979) 143 CLR 458 Walden v Hensler (1987) 163 CLR 561 Weininger v The Queen [2003] HCA 14; (2003) 212 CLR 629 Wong v The Queen [2001] HCA 64; (2001) 207 CLR 584 Texts Cited: Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Whitehaven Coal Mining Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr P English (Prosecutor) Mr T Howard SC (Defendant)