Walker v The Queen

[2001] NTSC 69

IN THE MATTER OF A REFERENCE PURSUANT TO S.21 OF THE SUPREME COURT

ACT RE; WALKER v R [2001] NTSC 69

IN THE MATTER OF A REFERENCE
PURSUANT TO S.21 OF THE

SUPREME COURT ACT RE:

GLEN JOHN WALKER

Applicant

v

THE QUEEN

Respondent

TITLE OF COURT:	FULL COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
JURISDICTION:	FULL COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT EXERCISING TERRITORY JURISDICTION UPON REFERENCE PURSUANT TO S21 OF THE
SUPREME COURT ACT
FILE NO:	9702435
DELIVERED:	10 MAY 2001
HEARING DATES:	10 MAY 2001
JUDGMENT OF:	MILDREN ACJ, BAILEY& RILEY JJ
REPRESENTATION:
Counsel:
Applicant:	Mr McDonald and Ms Cox
Respondent:	Mr Wild, QC

Solicitors:

Applicant:	Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission
Respondent:	Director of Public Prosecutions

Judgment category classification: B

Judgment ID Number:	mil01245
Number of pages:	4
IN THE FULL COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA AT DARWIN
No. 9702435

IN THE MATTER OF A REFERENCE PURSUANT TO S.21 OF THE SUPREME

COURT ACT RE: WALKER v R [2001] NTSC 69

IN THE MATTER OF A
REFERENCE PURSUANT TO S.21

OF THE SUPREME COURT ACT RE:

GLEN JOHN WALKER

Applicant

v

THE QUEEN

Respondent

CORAM:  MILDREN ACJ, BAILEY & RILEY JJ

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

(Delivered 10 May 2001)

MILDREN ACJ:

1. This is a matter which has been referred to the Full Court pursuant to s21 of

   the Supreme Court Act by Angel J. The question which is raised by the

   reference is whether under s43(5)(c) or (d) of the Sentencing Act, when a

   court restores a sentence or part of a sentence which is for a period of

twelve months or longer and orders the offender to serve it, the court has the
power to fix a non-parole period pursuant to s53(1) of the Act. In my

opinion, that question must be answered "Yes".

1. The relevant provisions to be considered are s113, s53(1), s43 and s59 of the

   Sentencing Act. It is also relevant to consider s7 which deals with

   sentencing orders. I do not think it is necessary to go into much detail.

   Precisely the same question as we have been asked to determine has been

   answered affirmatively by the Court of Appeal of Victoria in the case of R v

   Hatch (1998) 3 VR 693; in (1997) 95 A Crim R 46; where Callaway JA with

   whom Batt JA agreed, considered the relevant provisions of the Victorian

   Sentencing Act 1991. The comparable provisions of the Victorian Act are in

   pari materia with the relevant provisions of the Northern Territory Act. In

   Hatch, their Honours had no doubt, after considering the construction given

   to the various sections, that when a court restored a sentence or part of a

   sentence and ordered the offender to serve it, whenever the sentence was for

   twelve months or longer, the court had the power to fix a non-parole period.

   We agree with their Honours and note that the same argument was accepted

   by Kearney J in the case of R v Walsh, unreported, reasons given 12 April

   1999. In another case, which was the judgment of my own (R v Dare,

   unreported, 20 February 1997) I did not have the benefit of argument put to

   me on that occasion and that case was incorrect and must be overruled.

2. The submission of Mr McDonald QC for the applicant, which was supported

   by Mr Wild QC for the respondent, was based upon the reasoning of

   Callaway JA in R v Hatch, supra. The same result can also be arrived at in another way. It may be argued that when a sentence of imprisonment is

   imposed, the Judge makes a "sentencing order", the terms of which vide s7

   are to "record a conviction and order that the offender serve a term of

   imprisonment…". Section 53(1), which provides for the fixing of a non -

   parole period, uses the expression "where a Court sentences an offender to

   be imprisoned…". Clearly the draftsperson had in mind that when a court

   sentenced an offender to be imprisoned, the court would be making an order

   that the offender serve a term of imprisonment. The same language is used

   by s43(5)(c) and (d) where the expression used is "restore the sentence or

   part sentence held in suspense and order the offender to serve it.".

3. Accordingly, in my opinion, we ought to hold that in the circumstances

   where, under s43(5)(c) or (d), a court restores a sentence or part of a

   sentence which is for a period of twelve months or longer and orders the

   offender to serve it, the court does have the power to fix a non-parole

   period, pursuant to s53(1) of the Sentencing Act. I would order that the

   matter be remitted to Angel J for further consideration as to whether or not

   his Honour ought to fix a non-parole period in the circumstances of this

   case.

   BAILEY J

4. I agree with the orders proposed by the Acting Chief Justice for the reasons

   given and I have nothing further to add.

   RILEY J

5. I agree that the question must be answered in the affirmative for the reasons

   expressed by the Acting Chief Justice. I agree that the matter ought to be

   remitted to Angel J to be dealt with accordingly and I have nothing further

   to add.

   MILDREN ACJ

6. The formal order of the Court is that the matter is remitted to Angel J for

   further consideration as to whether or not his Honour should fix a non-

   parole period in the circumstances.