Gillette Australia Pty Ltd v Energizer Australia Pty Ltd [2002] FCAFC 223

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Gillette Australia Pty Ltd v Energizer Australia Pty Ltd [2002] FCAFC 223

TRADE PRACTICES - consumer protection – comparative advertising – television commercial – rival manufacturers of batteries – comparison showing appellant's battery three times more powerful than one of respondent's batteries – whether comparison is misleading and deceptive because cheaper retail cost of comparator battery is not shown – whether comparison is misleading and deceptive because of omission of any reference to rival's equivalent battery

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE –natural justice – affidavits filed but not read or tendered – content of affidavits referred to in judgment – whether breach of the rules of natural justice could not have affected the outcome

Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 52 and 53(a) Hoover (Australia) Pty Ltd v Email Ltd (1991) 104 ALR 369 – mentioned Telstra Corporation v Optus Communications Pty Ltd (1997) ATPR 41-541 – mentioned Stuart Alexander & Co (Interstate) Pty Ltd v Blenders Pty Ltd (1981) 37 ALR 161 – mentioned State Government Insurance Commission v JM Insurance Pty Ltd (1984) 16 ATPR 40-465 – mentioned Colgate-Palmolive Pty Ltd v Smithkline Beecham Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd (1997) 39 IPR 147 – mentioned Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Black & Decker (Australasia) Pty Ltd (1990) 18 IPR 270 – mentioned Country Road Clothing Pty Ltd v Najee Nominees Pty Ltd (1991) 13 ATPR 41-106 - mentioned Pacific Dunlop Ltd v Hogan (1989) 23 FCR 553 – mentioned Trade Practices Commission v Optus Communications Pty Ltd (1996) 64 FCR 326 – mentioned Eveready Australia Pty Ltd v Gillette Australia Pty Ltd (2000) ATPR 41-751 – mentioned Collector of Customs v Pozzolanic Enterprises Pty Ltd (1993) 43 FCR 280 - mentioned Duracell Australia Pty Ltd v Union Carbide Australia Ltd (1988) 14 IPR 293 – mentioned Henjo Investments Pty Ltd v Collins Marrickville Pty Ltd (1988) 79 ALR 83 - mentioned Collier Constructions Pty Ltd v Foskett Pty Ltd (1990) 97 ALR 460 - mentioned Demagogue Pty Ltd v Ramensky (1992) 39 FCR 31 - mentioned Johnson Tiles Pty Ltd v Esso Australia Ltd [2000] FCA 1572 - mentioned Government Insurance Office of New South Wales v Bailey (1992) 27 NSWLR 304 - applied Brinkley v Brinkley [1965] P 75 - cited Kanda v Government of Malaya [1962] AC 322 – cited Kioa v West (1959) 159 CLR 550 - cited Stead v State Government Insurance Commission (1986) 161 CLR 141 – applied Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82 - cited Hoover (Australia) Pty Ltd v Email Ltd (1991) 104 ALR 369 – cited Sterling Winthrop Pty Ltd v The Boots Company (Australia) Pty Ltd (1995) 32 IPR 361 – cited