Orion Pet Products Pty Ltd v Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Vic) 2002] FCA 860

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Orion Pet Products Pty Ltd v Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Vic) [2002] FCA 860

TRADE PRACTICES – representations made by or on behalf of RSPCA regarding applicant's manufactured products, electronic dog collars - whether representations false – whether conduct was misleading or deceptive or likely to mislead or deceive –whether RSPCA a "trading corporation" – whether representations made "in trade or commerce" INJURIOUS FALSEHOOD – elements of tort – whether requisite mental state established DEFAMATION – whether statements made concerning applicant's products conveyed imputations pleaded – whether statements defamatory – whether applicant identified - defences of justification, fair comment and qualified privilege WORDS AND PHRASES – "trading corporation" - "in trade or commerce" Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 52, 53(a) Mummery v Irvings Pty Ltd (1956) 96 CLR 99 at 110 referred to Dare v Pulham (1982) 148 CLR 658 at 664 referred to Bruce v Odhams Press Ltd [1936] 1 KB 697 at 713 referred to Multigroup Distribution Services Pty Ltd v TNT Australia Pty Ltd (1996) ATPR 41-522 at 42,679 referred to Mitanis v Pioneer Concrete (Vic) Pty Ltd (1997) ATPR 41-591 at 44,152 referred to Truth About Motorways Pty Ltd v Macquarie Infrastructure Investment Ltd (1998) ATPR 41-633 at 40,978 referred to Queensland v Pioneer Concrete (Qld) Pty Ltd (1999) ATPR 41-691 at 42,827 referred to Beach Petroleum NL v Johnson (1991) 105 ALR 456 referred to James v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (1986) 64 ALR 347 at 372 referred to Global Sportsman v Mirror Newspapers (1984) 2 FCR 82 at 88 referred to Tobacco Institute of Australia Ltd v Australian Federation of Consumer Organisations Inc (1993) 38 FCR 1 at 25-26, 45-48 referred to Stanton v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (1987) ATPR 40-755 referred to Turner v Jenolan Investments Pty Ltd, Jenolan Investments Pty Ltd v Turner, Turner v Acfold Investments Pty Ltd (1985) ATPR 40-571 at 46,635 referred to Sabre Corporation Pty Ltd v Laboratories Pharm-a-Care Pty Ltd (1995) ATPR 41-396 referred to Riley McKay v Bannerman (1977) 31 FLR 129 at 134 referred to Given v CV Holland (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1977) 29 FLR 212 at 217 referred to The Queen v Trade Practices Tribunal: Ex parte St George County Council (1974) 130 CLR 533 at 543, 546, 553, 561-2 and 572 referred to The Queen v Federal Court of Australia; Ex parte W.A. National Football League (1979) 143 CLR 190 at 208, 234 and 239 referred to Hughes v WA Cricket Association Inc (1986) 19 FCR 10 at 29 referred to Forbes v Australian Yachting Federation Inc (1996) 131 FLR 241 at 291 referred to Fasold v Roberts (1997) 70 FCR 489 at 525-526 referred to The Commonwealth v Tasmania (The Tasmanian Dam Case) (1983) 158 CLR 1 at 240 referred to E v Australian Red Cross Society (1991) 27 FCR 310 at 343 considered United Firefighters' Union of Australia v Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board (1998) 83 FCR 346 considered Quickenden v O'Connor (2001) 109 FCR 243 at 260, 261 referred to Concrete Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd v Nelson (1990) 169 CLR 594 at 602-604 applied Nixon v Slater & Gordon (2000) 175 ALR 15 at 23, 23 and 34 referred to Unilan Holdings v Kerin (1992) 35 FCR 272 referred to Tobacco Institute of Australia v Woodward (1993) 32 NSWLR 559 referred to Plimer v Roberts (1997) 80 FCR 303 referred to Robin Pty Ltd v Canberra International Airport Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 1019 referred to Glorie v WA Chip & Pulp Co Pty Ltd (1981) 55 FLR 310 referred to Wardley Australia Ltd v Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514 referred to Ratcliffe v Evans [1982] 2 QB 524 referred to John v MGN Ltd [1997] QB 506 at 507 referred to Barnes v Sharpe (1910) 11 CLR 462 referred to Australian Broadcast Corporation v Comalco Ltd (1986) 68 ALR 259 referred to Parmiter v Coupland (1840) 6 M&W 105 at 108 referred to Slatyer v The Daily Telegraph Newspaper Co Ltd (1908) 6 CLR 1 at 7 referred to Gardiner v Fairfax (1942) 42 SR(NSW) 171 at 172 referred to Farquhar v Bottom [1980] 2 NSWLR 380 at 386 referred to Knupffer v London Express [1944] AC 116 at 120 referred to Morgan v Odhams Press [1971] 1 WLR 1239 referred to Mirror Newspapers v World Hosts Pty Ltd (1979) 141 CLR 632 at 639 referred to Mann v Medicine Group (1992) 38 FCR 400 referred to Speight v Gosnay (1891) 60 LJQB 231 referred to Polly Peck (Holdings) Plc v Trelford [1986] QB 1000 considered Chakravarti v Advertiser Newspapers Ltd (1998) 193 CLR 519 referred to Robinson v Laws [2001] QCA 122 referred to David Syme & Co Ltd v Hore-Lacey [2000] 1 VR 667 referred to Anderson v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2001) 3 VR 619 referred to Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd v Parker (1992) 29 NSWLR 448 referred to Clarke v Norton [1910] VLR 494 at 499 referred to London Artists v Littler [1969] 2 QB 375 at 391 referred to Adam v Ward [1917] AC 309 at 334 referred to Smith's Newspaper Ltd v Becker (1932) 47 CLR 279 at 304 referred to Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1997) 189 CLR 520 referred to Lewis v Daily Telegraph Ltd; sub nom Rubber Improvements Ltd v Daily Telegraph Ltd (AC) [1964] AC 234 at 262 referred to Nixon v Slater & Gordon (2000) 175 ALR 15 at 23, 23 and 34 referred to John Fairfax & Sons Ltd v Kelly (1987) 8 NSWLR 131 referred to Popovic v Herald & Weekly Times Ltd [2002] VSC 220 at pars 50-51 referred to Humphries v TWT Ltd (1993) 120 ALR 693 referred to Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1966) 117 CLR 118 at 150 referred to Dingle v Associated Newspapers Ltd [1964] AC 371 at 396 referred to Carson v John Fairfax & Sons (1993) 178 CLR 44 at 70-71 and 104-105 referred to Triggell v Pheeney (1951) 82 CLR 497 at 514 referred to Fleming The Law of Torts (9th ed, 1998) at 586, 648, 780, Rogers, Winfield & Jolowicz on Tort (14th ed, 1994) at 307-308 Gatley on Libel and Slander (9th ed., 1998)at [9.2] Halsbury's Laws of Australia, vol 10, pars [145-835]-[145-845]