Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Cement Australia Pty Ltd [2017] FCAFC 159

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Cement Australia Pty Ltd [2017] FCAFC 159 Appeal from: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Cement Australia Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 453

File number: QUD 408 of 2016

Judges: MIDDLETON, BEACH AND MOSHINSKY JJ

Date of judgment: 5 October 2017

Catchwords: COMPETITION – pecuniary penalties – principles governing the imposition of pecuniary penalties under s 76 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) – whether a single joint and several penalty can be imposed on more than one contravenor – consideration of the course of conduct principle – whether the making of and giving effect to the provisions of a contravening contract ought to be separately penalised or treated as a single course of conduct – whether primary judge erred in his treatment of issues of market harm and financial benefits

Legislation: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth), s 23 Australian Industries Preservation Act 1906 (Cth), ss 4, 9 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), ss 45, 76, 82 Customs Act 1901 (Cth), s 243B Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), s 140 Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth), ss 169, 194 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), ss 45, 76

Cases cited: ACCC v Rural Press Ltd [2001] ATPR 41-833; [2001] FCA 1065 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 929 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Commercial and General Publications Pty Ltd (No 2) [2002] ATPR 41-905; [2002] FCA 1349 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Derodi Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 365 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v EDirect Pty Ltd (in liq) (2012) 206 FCR 160 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v EnergyAustralia Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 274 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Hillside (Australia New Media) Pty Ltd trading as Bet365 (No 2) [2016] FCA 698 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v IPM Operation and Maintenance Loy Yang Pty Ltd (No 2) [2007] FCA 11 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Kokos International Pty Ltd (No 2) [2008] ATPR 42-212; [2008] FCA 5 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Origin Energy Limited [2015] FCA 55 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd (2016) 340 ALR 25 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Reebok Australia Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 83 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v SMS Global Pty Ltd [2011] ATPR 42-364; [2011] FCA 855 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd (2013) 250 CLR 640 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Turi Foods Pty Ltd (No 5) [2013] ATPR 42-450; [2013] FCA 1109 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Visy Industries Holdings Pty Ltd (No 3) (2007) 244 ALR 673 Australian Prudential Regulation Authority v Holloway (2000) 35 ACSR 276; [2000] FCA 1245 Australian Securities and Investments Commission, in the matter of Whitebox Trading Pty Ltd v Whitebox Trading Pty Ltd [2017] FCAFC 100 Blacktown City Council v The Penatrators Pty Limited (No 5) [2015] NSWLEC 62 Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) v Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd (2012) 250 CLR 503 Commonwealth v Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate (2015) 258 CLR 482 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Cahill (2010) 269 ALR 1 Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria v Alpha Flight Services Pty Ltd [2015] FCAFC 118 Director of Public Prosecutions v Nieves [1992] 1 VR 257 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 J McPhee & Son (Australia) Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2000) 172 ALR 532 Malec v JC Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638 Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission v May (2016) 257 CLR 468 Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59 Minister for the Environment v Thermal Dell Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 1442 North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency Ltd v Northern Territory (2015) 256 CLR 569 NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (1996) 71 FCR 285 Placer (Granny Smith) Pty Ltd v Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd (2003) 196 ALR 257 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355 R v Associated Northern Collieries (1911) 14 CLR 387 R v Smithers; Ex parte McMillan (1982) 152 CLR 477 Royer v Western Australia (2009) 197 A Crim R 319; [2009] WASCA 139 Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL (1994) 179 CLR 332 Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2012) 287 ALR 249 SZTAL v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2017] HCA 34 Thiess v Collector of Customs (2014) 250 CLR 664 Tiger Nominees Pty Ltd v State Pollution Control Commission (1992) 25 NSWLR 715 Trade Practices Commission v Allied Mills Industries Pty Ltd (No 4) (1981) 37 ALR 256 Trade Practices Commission v CSR Ltd [1991] ATPR 41-076; [1990] FCA 762