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Water Act 1992
102CCriminal liability of executive officer of body corporate – legal
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102C Criminal liability of executive officer of body corporate – legal
burden of proof on defence
(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).
on an individual for the relevant offence.
(2) An offence against subsection (1) is an offence of absolute liability.
subsection (1) if the defendant:
(a) was not in a position to influence the conduct of the body
corporate in relation to the contravention; or
(b) took reasonable steps to prevent the contravention; or
(c) did not know, and could not reasonably have been expected
to know, that the contravention would happen.
Water Act 1992 89
(5) 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.
(6) Subsection (5) does not limit the matters the court may consider.
(7) This section does not affect the liability of the body corporate.
(8) This section applies whether or not the body corporate is
prosecuted for, or found guilty of, the relevant offence.
(9) In this section:
declared provision means:
(a) section 40(3), 44(2), 56(2), 59(2) or 66(2); or
(b) a provision of the Regulations prescribed by regulation.
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.