MONOGRAPH 40 volume 1

59 Research monograph 40 2. Findings Table 6 shows that the quantum nature of fines also varied depending on the class of offender. Of the four classes of offenders, corporations incurred the highest average fine ($43,682), closely followed by “special liability” offenders ($43,087). The average fine amount for “ordinary Joe” individuals ($19,737) was less than half that for corporations and “special liability” offenders. The average fine amount for “small business owners” was just over $30,000. The median fine amounts for “special liability” offenders and corporations was the same at $25,000; but very different from the median fine amount for small business owners (median: $15,000) and “ordinary Joe” individuals (median: $11,625). This demonstrates that those persons involved in the management of a corporation received fine amounts more like those imposed on companies than those imposed on individual environmental offenders. Figures 6 and 7 show the distribution of fine amounts for the different classes of environmental offenders. Figure 6 shows the distribution of fine amounts in terms of percentage of offences and grouped dollar values. 369 Fine amounts for corporations appear to follow a reasonably normal “bell-shaped” distribution, albeit the top of the bell is “dented” reflecting the modal fine amount of $20,000 and a secondary mode of $50,000. The distribution of fines for small business owners is less “normal” with a second, smaller, distinct hump corresponding to fines of up to and including $100,000. 369 For example, “$10,000” represents the range of fines from $5,001 to $10,000 and includes all fines within that band. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Per cent 5 20 25 Fine amount $1K $2K $3K $5K $10K $20K $30K $50K $100K $200K $75K $500K $750K $1M Corporation Special liability offender Small business owner Individual Figure 6: Distribution of fine amounts for environmental planning and protection offences in the LEC by Class of Offender — 2000 to 2015 (principal offence only)