[2023] WASC 4
General information, not legal advice.
Supreme Court of WA
2023-01-13
Derrick J
Original judgment source is linked above.
Background to the hearing of the application Supervision order
Contraventions of the Supervision Order and the making of an application under the DSO Act
Trial of issues and sentencing for the contravention offences
Relevant statutory provisions and applicable legal principles
As will emerge from the outline below of the statutory framework under the DSO Act and [the Act], the concepts and criteria with which the court is concerned in determining an application of this kind are substantially the same under both statutes. Although I have reached that view on the basis of the ordinary meaning of the provisions of both statutes, having regard to the context of the provisions within the statutes and the objects underlying the statutes, the construction is confirmed, in my opinion, by the second reading speech made to the Legislative Assembly in respect of the High Risk Offenders Bill 2019 by the Honourable Attorney General. The Attorney informed the House that the bill was intended to 'extend the Supreme Court's ability to make a continuing detention order or supervision order to serious violent offenders in the same manner as the provisions contained in the [DSO Act]'. He went on to say:
'In doing so, this bill fully preserves the provisions that apply in respect of dangerous sexual offenders in the [DSO Act].'
Whether or not that has been achieved remains to be seen upon analysis of the provisions. However, in my opinion, as the concepts and criteria in both statutes are substantially the same, the jurisprudence established in respect of the DSO Act remains relevant in construing and applying [the Act], with appropriate adaptation in cases involving non-sexual offences.
(1) If, on the hearing of an application under section 53, the court is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the offender to whom the application relates has contravened or is contravening a condition of a supervision order, the court must ‑
(a) rescind the supervision order and make a continuing detention order in relation to the offender; or
(b) except as provided in section 29, make an order amending the conditions of the supervision order, or extending the period for which the offender is to be subject to the supervision order, or both; or
(c) except as provided in section 29, make an order affirming the supervision order without amendment or extension.
(2) ...
(3) In deciding which order to make under subsection (1) or (2), the paramount consideration is to be the need to ensure adequate protection of the community.
(1) A court cannot make, affirm or amend a supervision order in relation to an offender unless it is satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the offender will substantially comply with the standard conditions of the order as made, affirmed or amended.
(2) The onus of proof as to the matter described in subsection (1) is on the offender.
(3) This section does not apply to the making of an interim supervision order.
In choosing between an indefinite detention order or a supervision order, the fact that the paramount consideration is the need to ensure the adequate protection of the community does not exclude other considerations. The use of the word 'adequate' indicates that a qualitative assessment is required. In considering whether a supervision order would adequately protect the community, account must be taken of conditions which can be placed on a supervision order so as to ensure the adequate protection of the community, the rehabilitation of the respondent and his care and treatment. The [DSO Act] does not require that there be no risk of reoffending. Such a requirement could never be met and would mean no person to whom the [DSO Act] applies would ever be released. The question is whether the risk is reduced to a reasonably acceptable level that ensures adequate protection of the community. That requires a weighing of the nature and degree of risk in the context of methods for the management and reduction of that risk. If, after considering all the evidence, the court is left in doubt as to whether the conditions of a supervision order would adequately protect the community, because the paramount consideration is the need to ensure the adequate protection of the community, the court must expressly decline to rescind the continuing detention order.
Although there is no doubt, under the Western Australian Act, that a court must have regard to the psychiatrists' reports (and must bear in mind that the authors have an area of expertise not shared by the court), the reports are only a part of the materials that must be considered and the weight to be accorded to them will depend upon their cogency and reliability, when considered in light of the whole of the evidence. The responsibility for deciding whether or not the offender is a serious danger to the community as defined and, if so, what order should be made is that of the judge alone.
History of relevant proceedings under the DSO Act
... [The respondent] has greater insight into his personal risk factors and the benefits to him and to the community of appropriate supervision. Dr Febbo acknowledged that care is required in considering the information provided by the respondent. Having allowed for that caution he remains of the opinion that the risk of the respondent committing an offence is manageable in the community under a supervision order.
It is also significant that Dr Febbo considers that further time in custody is unlikely to achieve further progress. To the contrary, in Dr Febbo's opinion there is a risk that if he remains in custody there is a risk that there might be a setback in the progress that has been achieved.
Should the respondent be released under a supervision order he will be closely managed by members of the local risk management group that includes police officers from the Sex Offender Management Squad, Community Corrections Officers from the Department of Corrective Services Public Protection Unit and Dangerous Sex Offender psychologists.
If the respondent is released under a supervision order then he will be able to live in accommodation that has been allocated to him under the DSO Supported Accommodation Programme. The proposed accommodation has been used by another Dangerous Sex Offender under supervision and is well known to the Sex Offender Management Squad of the Western Australian Police and to the Department of Corrective Services Public Protection Unit staff. Ms Dabala's evidence was that if the respondent were to be released on a supervision order he can be subject to Global Positioning System tracking. This will allow the Department of Corrective Services to monitor the respondent's compliance with any curfew requirements, ensure that the respondent does not go to exclusion zones associated with a risk of offending which he is directed not to go to and provide improved information to guide his case management.
I am satisfied by the evidence of Dr Febbo, Ms Rankin and Ms Dabala that while subject to appropriate conditions which will be specified in the order the community can be adequately protected if the respondent is released on a supervision order.
Accordingly, I am not satisfied that the State has established that there is an unacceptable risk that the respondent would commit a serious sexual offence if a continuing detention order was not made. Dr Wojnarowska has concluded that the risk of the respondent sexually reoffending is no higher than when he was released to the community under the Supervision Order made in 2015. The contraventions of the order, apart from the positive test for methylamphetamine, are more in the nature of yellow rather than red lights, to adopt McKechnie J's analogy. The respondent has been in custody since July 2016 - a significant period that ought to have had a deterrent effect and he will be released on even more stringent conditions than those required by the order made by Martino J in 2015. He has not sexually reoffended while in the community. He will be required to take anti-libidinal medication - and I should indicate that, in my view, a failure to comply with that requirement would be a significant breach of the Supervision Order.
However, I am satisfied that the Supervision Order should be amended and extended pursuant to s 23(1)(a) of the DSO Act. I accept the recommendations made by Ms Rathmann to amend the Supervision Order to add conditions, and amend existing conditions, in relation to the respondent not accessing pornography, not remaining in the presence of persons using or affected by alcohol or any illicit substance and reporting the details of any relationship that might become intimate to a Community Corrections Officer, having regard to the evidence that each of those requirements directly relate to the risk of the respondent reoffending.
I also consider that the period for which the respondent is to be subject to the Supervision Order ought to be extended having regard to the evidence concerning the respondent's variable engagement with his counsellors and his community corrections officers. I accept that the respondent's treatment needs are long term having regard to the evidence of Dr Wojnarowska and Ms Place about his personality profile and his deeply entrenched psychiatric disorders. The Supervision Order was made for a period of five years and would have expired on 15 October 2020 but for the effect of s 24(2) of the DSO Act.
In my view, the adequate protection of the community requires the respondent to remain subject to the Supervision Order for a longer period. The Supervision Order will be amended so that the respondent will be subject to the order for a period of 7 years rather than 5 years.
PE 4006/2020
At about 5.40 pm on Saturday 18 January 2020 you were in your red motor vehicle registration number 1DLF 005 near Belmont Forum Shopping Centre Belmont (Belmont Forum). Two 10 year old girls, JP and AC, were walking past your car towards a bus stop when you engaged them in conversation by asking them what they were up to and where the bottle shop was. You produced some money and told JP and AC that you would give them money, the clear implication being that you would give them the money if they agreed to show you where the bottle shop was. You did this in an attempt to induce JP and AC to get into your car. However, JP and AC did not get into your car. At the conclusion of the conversation you drove away in your car and JP and AC continued to walk to the nearby bus stop.
At no time were you authorised by your CCO to talk to JP and AC.
You engaged in the above described conduct with a sexual intention, that is, with the intention of performing a sexual act against, or in the presence of, one or both of JP and AC.
When you drove away from JP and AC you drove your car in the Belmont Forum car park for a short time. Then, while JP and AC were seated at the bus stop you drove your car past them at the bus stop on three separate occasions within a few minutes. You did this so that you could observe JP and AC and because you had a sexual interest in JP and AC.
PE 5193/2020
You drove your car to a shopping complex in nearby Rivervale (the Rivervale shops) and parked in the car park close to an IGA store. You entered IGA and bought a tub of margarine. You then returned to your car and remained seated in the driver's seat of your car for several minutes.
At about 6.00 pm JP and AC arrived at the Rivervale shops on the bus. JP and AC got off the bus and began walking across Gerring Court towards a park that was on the opposite side of Gerring Court to IGA. As JP and AC crossed Gerring Court you called out to them from your car. JP and AC stopped, looked in your direction, and walked a few steps towards your car before turning away and continuing to walk across Gerring Court towards the park.
At approximately 6.02 pm you drove out of the IGA car park, turned right onto Gerring Court and then left into a parking bay which was on the opposite side of Gerring Court to the IGA car park adjacent to the park and close to the recreation centre and public toilets situated in the park. After a very short time you reversed out of the parking bay adjacent to the park, drove back into the IGA car park, and reverse parked in a parking bay which was in front of a cream wall forming the boundary to the IGA car park.
At approximately 6.14 pm you drove out of the parking bay in the IGA car park and to a parking area situated adjacent to the park close to the park's recreation centre and public toilets. This was where you had seen JP and AC walk to. You drove to this location with the intention of engaging in further conversation with JP and AC. You parked your car and then initiated and engaged in conversation with JP and AC. During the conversation JP and AC approached your car and you remained seated in your car. During the conversation you asked JP and AC if they knew where the petrol station was and asked them to get into your car to show you where the petrol station was. JP and AC did not get into your car.
At approximately 6.15 pm you drove away from JP and AC to the other side of the park.
At approximately 6.17 pm you drove back into Gerring Court to the area near where you had just interacted with JP and AC. JP and AC were still in the general area but were walking along the edge of the park back towards IGA. As you approached JP and AC you brought your car to a stop on Gerring Court and again interacted briefly with JP and AC while seated in your car. You then drove away. However, you hovered in the area of the Rivervale shops and the park with the intention of interacting further with JP and AC.
During either your initial conversation with JP and AC or your conversation with them when you drove back from the other side of the park into Gerring Court, you offered JP and AC money to show you where the petrol station was.
At about 6.25 pm you again drove into the parking area situated close to the park's recreation centre and public toilets. You parked your car. You then interacted with JP and AC who were still in the general area and who approached your car. During the interaction you remained in your car. At about 6.27 pm JP and AC walked away from your car in the direction of the IGA car park. You drove out of the parking area, turned left onto Gerring Court and drove away.
At approximately 6.30 pm you drove into the IGA car park from Gerring Court and reverse parked in a parking bay in front of the cream wall forming the boundary to the car park. As you drove into the car park you interacted briefly with JP and AC who were standing close to the entry to the car park. Further, while parked in the parking bay and while seated in your car you continued to interact with JP and AC who stood close to your driver's side door.
During this interaction you gave JP a $50 note and asked her to go into IGA to change the note into smaller notes for you. At approximately 6.32 pm JP ran from your car into IGA to change the money for you while AC remained standing by your car interacting with you. At this time you wanted to continue your interaction with AC.
At approximately 6.35 pm JP, having obtained the change for you, ran back to your car. A short time later you drove out of the parking bay in the direction of Jupp Lane which is the lane situated behind IGA. JP and AC remained standing in the parking bay close to the cream wall.
At approximately 6.40 pm JP and AC walked down Jupp Lane away from the direction of IGA. As they did so you drove into Jupp Lane from the opposite direction, that is, drove into Jupp Lane from Francisco Street and in the direction of IGA. You did so with the intention of looking for JP and AC and interacting further with them.
When you reached JP and AC who were still walking down Jupp Lane you stopped your car and interacted with both of them for a period of time while remaining seated in your car. JP and AC then started to walk back up Jupp Lane towards IGA. You followed them slowly in your car. At one point AC stopped and walked back to the driver's side of your car and interacted with you. AC then moved away from your car and re-joined JP who had continued walking. After these interactions AC and JP continued walking up Jupp Lane towards IGA. You continued to drive in the same direction towards IGA before turning left out of Jupp Lane and driving away.
Either while you were engaging with AC when JP was in IGA changing money for you, or while you were engaging with AC in Jupp Lane, you asked AC to meet you at the end of Jupp Lane and offered her money to do so.
At no time were you authorised by your CCO to speak to JP and AC.
In engaging in the conduct to which I have referred, and in interacting and engaging with JP and AC, you had a sexual intention, that is, an intention to perform a sexual act against, or in the presence of, one or both of JP and AC.
PE 5194/2020
At approximately 6.45 pm AC walked down Jupp Lane on her own away from the direction of IGA towards Francisco Street. She did so because she was looking for you as a result of you asking her to meet you at that location. However, at this time you were not in Jupp Lane. Accordingly, at approximately 6.47 pm AC walked back up Jupp Lane towards IGA where JP was still standing.
At approximately 6.50 pm you drove into Jupp Lane from Francisco Street looking for AC and intentionally parked your car in a secluded location, specifically a vacant area of land that was at the end of Jupp Lane close to the intersection with Francisco Street. This area was out of closed circuit television camera coverage.
At approximately 6.51 pm AC jogged down Jupp Lane by herself to meet you where you had parked. JP waited for AC in the area of IGA.
When AC got to your parked car at the end of Jupp Lane you spoke to her. You asked her if she wanted money, asked her if she wanted to get into your car, offered her $20 to get into your car, and told her that if she got into your car she would have to do something.
AC at this point ran away from your car back up Jupp Lane to JP. You drove away out of Jupp Lane onto Francisco Street and away from the area.
At no time were you authorised by your CCO to speak to AC.
In engaging in the conduct to which I have just referred you had a sexual intention, that is, an intention to commit a sexual act against, or in the presence of, AC.
PE 4007/2020 and PE 5195/2020
On Tuesday 21 January 2020 you attended a meeting in Perth with your CCO. During the meeting you did not disclose your contact with JP and AC at Belmont Forum (PE 4007/2020). Nor did you disclose your repeated contact with JP and AC in Rivervale (PE 5195/2020). You did not do so because you knew not only that your contact had been in breach of the conditions of the Supervision Order, but also because you knew that you had engaged in the contact with a sexual intent.
The respondent's recent personal circumstances[52]
The respondent's performance and progress while on the Supervision Order prior to being returned to prison The respondent's engagement in psychological counselling[53]
The respondent's compliance with the requirements of the Supervision Order[54]
The respondent's use of antilibidinal medication while on the Supervision Order[55]
The respondent's behaviour in prison since January 2020[56]
Respondent's cessation of antilibidinal treatment
Ms Collyer's evidence Treatment Progress Report[61]
Current position relating to antilibidinal treatment[67]
Risk of committing 'serious offences' if not subject to a restriction order
Analysis and decision Findings as to contraventions of Supervision Order
Will the respondent substantially comply with the standard conditions of the Supervision Order?
Would an order amending, extending or affirming the Supervision Order ensure adequate protection of the community?
a) For the purpose of averting or minimising a serious risk of death or injury to yourself or another person;
>
> b) For a purpose, and duration approved in advance by a CCO;
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> c) On the order of a CCO or Police Officer;
a) To obtain urgent medical or dental treatment for yourself;
>
> b) For the purpose of averting or minimising a serious risk of death or injury to yourself or another person;
>
> c) To obey an order issued under a written law (such as a summons) requiring your presence elsewhere;
>
> d) At the direction of a CCO and/or Police Officer.
a) The contact is authorised in advance by the CCO and such contact is supervised at all times by an adult approved in advance by the CCO;
>
> b) The contact is necessary to complete a commercial transaction and limited to the minimum contact required to complete the transaction, and another adult is present.
('Contact' under this condition and the following two conditions means any form of interaction or communication whether by word, gesture, expression or touch and whether in person, in writing, by telephonic or electronic means, but does not include the bare minimum of interaction or communication necessary between an adult and child to promptly and civilly terminate any inadvertent or uninvited interaction or communication);
I certify that the preceding paragraph(s) comprise the reasons for decision of the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
[1] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Brown [No 8] [2015] WASC 390.
[2] The State of Western Australia v Brown [No 9] [2017] WASC 355.
[4] The term 'commencement day' is defined for the purposes of the provisions contained in pt 10 of the Act (s 122 ‑ s 125) to mean 'the day on which this section comes into operation'. The 'day on which this section comes into operation' is, by virtue of proclamation, 26 August 2020: Act, s 2(1)(c).
[6] I will say more about the relevant provisions of the Act in due course. At this point it suffices to say that the provisions of the Act relating to reviews do not operate significantly differently to the way in which the corresponding provisions of the DSO Act operated.
[7] The State of Western Australia v Brown [No 10] [2020] WASC 476.
[8] The State of Western Australia v Brown [2021] WASCSR 5.
[10] The application was made in light of the current expiry date of the Supervision Order (14 June 2026) and the evidence that was expected to be given (and was ultimately given) by Dr Wojnarowska to the effect that if the respondent is again released on the Supervision Order he should be subject to the order for 10 years.
[15] Exhibit 1, vol 2, 400. Dr Wojnarowska is a 'qualified experts' as defined in s 3 of the Act. Her report was prepared pursuant to s 54(a) and s 74 of the Act.
[23] The State of Western Australia v ZSJ [2020] WASC 330 [30] ‑ [31].
[24] Garlett v The State of Western Australia [2022] HCA 30.
[27] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Hart [2019] WASC 4 [52]; The State of Western Australia v West [No 6] [2019] WASC 427 [29]; The State of Western Australia v ZSJ [56] ‑ [58]; The State of Western Australia v Patrick [No 4] [2020] WASC 48 [109] - [111]. Any further references to 'serious offence' or to 'serious offences' should be read as references to a serious offence or serious offences as defined in s 5 of the Act.
[28] The State of Western Australia v ACJ [2021] WASC 219 [416]; Garlett v The State of Western Australia [103] - [104], [233].
[29] The State of Western Australia v Yates [2020] WASC 149 [33].
[30] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v Williams [2007] WASCA 206; (2007) 35 WAR 297 [63] ‑ [64]; Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Decke [2009] WASC 312 [14]; The State of Western Australia v Newland [2018] WASC 344 [21]; The State of Western Australia v West [No 6] [26]; The State of Western Australia v ZSJ [51]; Garlett v The State of Western Australia [106].
[31] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v DAL [No 2] [2016] WASC 212 [33]. Also adopted in The State of Western Australia v Narkle [2019] WASC 404 [13] and The State of Western Australia v West [No 6] [26]. The last sentence of Beech J's quoted remarks which refers to the court expressly declining to rescind the supervision order applies equally to a situation such as the present in which the court is being asked to determine if it is, due to contraventions of a supervision order by an offender, necessary to rescind the supervision order and make a continuing detention order.
[32] The State of Western Australia v Latimer [2006] WASC 235 [24]; The State of Western Australia v Patrick [No 5] [2022] WASC 61 [56]; Garlett v The State of Western Australia [85], [229] - [230].
[33] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v GTR [2008] WASCA 187; (2008) 38 WAR 307 [62].
[34] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Brown [2010] WASC 405.
[35] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Brown [No 5] [2012] WASC 276.
[36] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Brown [No 6] [2013] WASC 148 [12], [54] - [59].
[37] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Brown [No 6] [115] - [116].
[38] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Brown [No 6] [107].
[39] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Brown [No 6] [12], [55]-[56], [113].
[40] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Brown [No 6] [12], [55]-[56], [113].
[41] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Brown [No 8] [2015] WASC 390.
[42] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Brown [No 8] [19].
[43] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Brown [No 8] [19].
[44] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Brown [No 8] [21].
[45] Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Brown [No 8] [22] - [24].
[46] The State of Western Australia v Brown [No 9] [2017] WASC 355 [16] - [25].
[47] The State of Western Australia v Brown [No 9]. At the time that Corboy J dealt with the application s 23 of the DSO Act provided as follows:
(1) If the court is satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the person who is subject to the supervision order is likely to contravene, is contravening, or has contravened, a condition of the supervision order, the court may -
(a) make an order amending the conditions of the supervision order, or extending the period for which the person is to be subject to the conditions of the supervision order, or both; or
(b) if the court is also satisfied that there is an unacceptable risk that, if an order under this paragraph were not made, the person would commit a serious sexual offence, make a continuing detention order in relation to the person; or
(2A) In considering whether it is satisfied as required in subsection (1)(b), the court must disregard the possibility that the person might temporarily be prevented from committing a serious sexual offence by imprisonment, by remand in custody or by the imposition of bail conditions.
(2) In deciding whether to make an order under subsection (1), the paramount consideration is to be the need to ensure adequate protection of the community.
[48] The State of Western Australia v Brown [No 9] [52] - [55].
[49] Director of Public Prosecution for Western Australia v Brown [No 6] [69] - [71].
[50] The facts of the respondent's prior sexual offences involving children are set out in detail in my reasons for decision on the trial of issues: The State of Western Australia v Brown [No 10] [197] - [216].
[51] The State of Western Australia v Brown [2021] WASCSR 5 [9] - [36].
[52] ACC Performance Report (exhibit 1, vol 2, 421 - 422); ACC Update Performance Report (exhibit 1, vol 2, 425 - 426).
[53] Psychological Intervention Completion Report (exhibit 1, vol 2, 389); ACC Performance Report (exhibit 1, vol 2, 418 - 419).
[54] ACC Performance Report (exhibit 1, vol 2, 418).
[55] Psychiatric report of Dr Wojnarowska (exhibit 1, vol 2, 405); ACC Performance Report (exhibit 1, vol 2, 419).
[56] ACC Performance Report (exhibit 1, vol 2, 421); ACC Update Performance Report (exhibit 1, vol 2, 425); Treatment Progress Report (exhibit 3, 4)
[64] Exhibit 1, vol 2, 424. It is unnecessary to make any reference herein to the Performance Report prepared by Mr Snow dated 6 May 2021 given that the contents of that report are encompassed and superseded by the contents of the Performance Repots prepared by Mr Carmichael.
[68] Director of Public Prosecutions (WA) v GTR [62].
(2007) 35 WAR 297
(2008) 38 WAR 307