Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing & Allied Services Union of Australia v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2007] FCAFC 132

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing & Allied Services Union of Australia v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2007] FCAFC 132

TRADE PRACTICES — restrictive trade practices — appeal against finding that union was liable as an accessory under s 76(1) of Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) to company's contraventions of ss 45E and 45EA — whether primary judge erred in finding contract, arrangement or understanding between company and union contravened s 45E — whether primary judge erred in drawing certain inferences — whether primary judge erred in finding alternative case of Australian Competition and Consumer Commission made out — whether primary judge erred in finding union had knowledge of all elements required by s 45E(3)

TRADE PRACTICES — restrictive trade practices — proper construction of s 45E(3) of Trade Practices Act — whether 'purpose' for the inclusion of a provision is objective or subjective — whether 'purpose' to be common intention of parties — whether 'purpose' must be the only purpose or an operative purpose — whether union can be liable as an accessory to a corporation's contravention of s 45E(3) — whether 'second person' must be a particular identified person — whether sufficient to identify a class of persons

TRADE PRACTICES — appeal against pecuniary penalty imposed on union for accessorial liability — whether pecuniary penalty excessive — standard of proof for pecuniary penalties under s 76

WORDS AND PHRASES — 'purpose'

Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) ss 15AA, 15AB(1), 15AB(2)(f) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 140, 140(2) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 24, 24(1), 27, 28, 28(1)(b), 28(1)(f), Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 4F, 4F(1), 4F(2), 45E, 45E(3) 45EA, 76, 76(1), 76(2), 88(7A) Adler v Australian Securities and Investments Commission (2003) 179 FLR 1 discussed Ahern v The Queen (1988) 165 CLR 87discussed ASX Operations Pty Ltd v Pont Data Pty Ltd (No 1) (1990) 27 FCR 460discussed Atcheson v Everitt (1776) 1 Cowp 382 [98 ER 1142] discussed Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v IPM Operation and Management Loy Yang Pty Ltd (2006) 157 FCR 162 affirmed Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v IPM Operation and Maintenance Loy Yang Pty Ltd (No 2) [2007]FCA 11 affirmed Bailey v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1977) 136 CLR 214discussed Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 considered Bullock v Federated Furnishing Trades Society of Australasia (1984) 58 ALR 364 discussed Bullock v Federated Furnishing Trades Society of Australasia (No 1) (1985) 5 FCR 464discussed Chamberlain v The Queen (No 2) (1984) 153 CLR 521 discussed Chief Executive Officer of Customs v Labrador Liquor Wholesale Pty Limited (2003) 216 CLR 161discussed Commercial Union Assurance Company of Australia Ltd v Ferrcom Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 389 discussed Cooper v Slade (1858) 6 HLC 746 at 747 [10 ER 1488]discussed Crofter Hand Woven Harris Tweed Co Ltd v Veitch [1942] AC 435 discussed Doney v The Queen (1990) 171 CLR 207 discussed Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Investments Pty Limited (1978) 140 CLR 434discussed Gibbins v Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union (1986) 12 FCR 450 discussed Hamilton v Whitehead (1988) 166 CLR 121 discussed Jones v Dunkel (1958) 101 CLR 298 considered Maggbury Pty Ltd v Hafele Australia Pty Ltd (2001) 21 CLR 181discussed Murphy v Overton Investments Pty Limited (2004) 216 CLR 388 discussed Murray v Murray (1960) 33 ALJR 521 discussed Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd (1992) 110 ALR 449 discussed News Ltd v South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club (2003) 215 CLR 563discussed R v Hillier (2007) 233 ALR 634 discussed Reg v Sharmpal Singh [1962] AC 188 discussed Rejfek v McElroy (1965) 112 CLR 517 discussed Rich v Australian Securities and Investments Commission (2004) 220 CLR 129discussed Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust v South Sydney City Council (2002) 186 ALR 289 discussed Stead v State Government Insurance Commission (1986) 161 CLR 141 considered The King and The Attorney-General of the Commonwealth v Associated Northern Collieries (1911) 14 CLR 387 discussed Tillmanns Butcheries Pty Ltd v Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union (1979) 42 FLR 331 discussed Tripodi v The Queen (1961) 104 CLR 1discussed United States v Regan 232 US 37 (1914) discussed Water Board v Moustakas (1988) 180 CLR 491discussed