The Court held that where a sentencing magistrate affords an offender the opportunity to address the court on personal circumstances but the offender refuses to meaningfully engage — particularly where the offender displays a blatantly dismissive attitude, asserts the court lacks jurisdiction, and fails to respond to enquiries — the magistrate has satisfied the obligation under s 53(1) of the Sentencing Act 1995 (WA) to take into account the offender's means 'as far as is practicable', and may proceed to impose fines under s 53(2). This distinguishes Dragon v WA Police [2024] WASC 147 on its facts, where the magistrate made no relevant enquiries at all. The Court also reiterated that pseudo-law and 'strawman theory' arguments have no legal basis and are wasteful of court and public resources.
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