Environment Protection Authority v Laison

[2018] NSWLEC 76

Land and Environment Court

New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation:	Environment Protection Authority v Laison [2018] NSWLEC 76
Hearing dates:	9 November 2017
Date of orders:	30 May 2018
Decision date:	30 May 2018
Jurisdiction:	Class 5
Before:	Sheahan J
Decision:	Orders at paragraph [71]
Catchwords:	ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: Sentence – plea of guilty to an offence regarding false waste documentation – objective and subjective considerations – aggravating and mitigating circumstances – fine and costs.
Legislation Cited:	Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Criminal Procedure Act 1986, Environmental Trust Act 1998 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 Road Rules 2014
Cases Cited:	Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Limited (2006) 145 LGERA 234; [2006] NSWLEC 34 Camilleri’s Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Environment Protection Authority v Aargus Pty Ltd; Kariotoglu; Kelly [2013] NSWLEC 19 Environment Protection Authority v Ashmore [2014] NSWLEC 136 Environment Protection Authority v Ballina Shire Council (2006) 148 LGERA 278; [2006] NSWLEC 289 Environment Protection Authority v Fernando and Another [2003] NSWLEC 281 Environment Protection Authority v Laison [2015] NSWLEC 89 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation (2006) 148 LGERA 299; [2006] NSWLEC 419 Markarian v R (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Mathews v Goulburn Wool Processors, NSWSC, Smart J, 6 November 1986, unreported Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Newcastle City Council v Pace Farm Egg Products [2002] NSWLEC 66 Plath v Rawson (2009) 170 LGERA 253; [2009] NSWLEC 178 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14
Category:	Principal judgment
Parties:	Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Mathew Toheroa Laison (Defendant)
Representation:	Counsel: Mr P English, barrister, with Ms K Lindeman, barrister (Prosecutor) Ms F Sinclair, barrister (Defendant)   Solicitors: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) V L Macri Lawyers Pty Limited (Defendant)
File Number(s):	2016/358581

Judgment

Introduction

1. The Defendant, Mr Matthew Laison, has pleaded guilty to an offence under s 144AA(1) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (“POEO Act”), in that he supplied information about waste to another person in the course of dealing with that waste, the information being false or misleading in a material respect.

2. The specified “charge period” was “between about 29 October 2012 and 18 December 2012 inclusive”, but in the particulars to the summons, the Prosecutor charged that Mr Laison supplied, to Gesu Lustri, on 29 October 2012, two documents, purporting to be weighbridge dockets issued by SITA Australia Pty Ltd (“SITA”), and which were not in fact weighbridge dockets issued by SITA, in the course of disposing of waste from 33 York Street, Sydney.

3. The offence occurred near Kemps Creek NSW, in the course of Mr Lustri or his company’s subcontracting of the Defendant to assist him with the disposal of general building waste from 33 York St, but the offence first came to…