Waste Management and Pollution Control Act 1998

(1) An executive officer of a body corporate commits an offence if the body corporate commits an offence by contravening a declared provision (a relevant offence).

Maximum penalty: The maximum penalty that may be imposed on an individual for the relevant offence.

(3) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (1) if the defendant proves that the defendant:

(a) was not in a position to influence the conduct of the body corporate in relation to the contravention; or

(c) did not know, and could not reasonably have been expected to know, that the contravention would happen.

Note for subsection (3)

A matter mentioned in subsection (3) must be proved on the balance of probabilities – see section 440 of the Criminal Code.

(4) In deciding whether the defendant took (or failed to take) reasonable steps to prevent the contravention, a court must consider the following:

(a) any action the defendant took directed towards ensuring the following (to the extent the action is relevant to the contravention):

(i) the body corporate arranged regular professional assessments of the body corporate's compliance with the declared provision;

(ii) the body corporate implemented any appropriate recommendation arising from an assessment under subparagraph (i);

(iii) the body corporate's employees, agents and contractors had a reasonable knowledge and understanding of the requirement to comply with the declared provision;

(b) any action the defendant took when the defendant became aware that the contravention was, or could be, about to happen.

(5) Subsection (4) does not limit the matters the court may consider.

(6) This section does not affect the liability of the body corporate.

(7) This section applies whether or not the body corporate is prosecuted for, or found guilty of, the relevant offence.

(8) This section does not apply if the body corporate would have a defence to a prosecution for the relevant offence.

declared provision means:

(a) section 14(1) or (2), 30(1), (2) or (3), 39(1) or (2), 43(1), 51(1), 52(1), (2), (3) or (4), 63(1) or (2), 80(1) or (2) or 83(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) or (7); or

executive officer, of a body corporate, means a director or other person who is concerned with, or takes part in, the management of the body corporate.