Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v INFO4PC.com Pty Ltd [2002] FCA 949

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v INFO4PC.com Pty Ltd [2002] FCA 949

CONTEMPT OF COURT – nature of contempt – standard of proof – relevance of intent – whether first respondent committed contempt of court in failing to comply with orders restraining it from advertising on a website – nature of "advertising" CONTEMPT OF COURT – whether first and second respondents each committed second contempt of court in failing to comply with orders restraining them from making certain withdrawals from accounts with financial institutions – whether receipt of cash from staff after cashing of wages cheques constitutes "cash withdrawal" – whether second respondent was director or de facto director of first respondent SENTENCING – contempt of court – rationale of sentence – seriousness of a contempt – intent of contemnor The Constitution s 71 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 31 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 9, 60(1)(a), 60(1)(b) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 79 Criminal Code (WA) s 7 Federal Court Rules O 40 r 6 and r 8 Borrie et al The Law of Contempt 3rd ed. 1996 at pp 559 – 560 Miller Contempt of Court 3rd ed. 2000 at p 672 Oxford English Dictionary, vol.1, p 138 The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1993) pp 32, 1671 - 2 The Macquarie Dictionary, 2nd ed. pp 70, 23 – 24, 1074 Walker The Oxford Companion to Law Clarendon Press 1980 at p 35 Re Colina; Ex parte Torney (1999) HCA 57 referred to Morris v Crown Office (1970) 2 QB 114 referred to Australasian Meat Industries Employees' Union v Mudginberri Station Pty Ltd (1986) 161 CLR 98 applied Trade Practices Commission v Optus Communications Pty Ltd (Beaumont J, 9 August 1995, unreported) referred to Australian Consolidated Press Ltd v Morgan (1965) 112 CLR 483 referred to Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525 applied Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union v BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1758 considered Concrete Constructions Pty Ltd v Plumbers and Gasfitters Employees Union (No 2) (1987) 15 FCR 64 referred to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Hughes [2001] FCA 38 discussed Re Garage Equipment Association's Agreement (1964) LR 4 RP 491 referred to Coward v Stapleton (1953) 90 CLR 573 followed Stancomb v Trowbridge Urban District Council [1910] 2 Ch 190 followed Rothmans of Pall Mall v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal (1985) 5 FCR 330 followed Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Rotary Offset Press Pty Ltd (1971) 45 ALJR 518 approved by the High Court (1972) 46 ALJR 609 followed Al Hayat Publishing Co Ltd v Ahmed Sokarno Eman Mohamed (Tamberlin J, 28 February 1997, unreported) followed Harmsworth v Harmsworth [1987] 1 WLR 1676 referred to Hersfield Developments Corporation Pty Ltd v Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (1981) 46 LGRA 180 considered Re Media Council of Australia and others (1996) ATPR 41-497 referred to Re Media Council of Australia Authorisation; Re Australian Consumer's Association Application (1987) 88 FLR 1 referred to Director of Public Prosecutions v United Telecasters Ltd (1990) 168 CLR 594 referred to Export Development Grants Board v Geoffrey Thompson and Growers Co-operative Company Pty Ltd (1985) 6 AAR 276 distinguished Ex parte Tziniolis; Re Harvey (1959) 76 WN (NSW) 686 referred to Hoover Co (Australia) Pty Ltd v Spackman (1998) 162 ALR 215 referred to Queensland Television Ltd v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal (1987) 17 FCR 246 referred to Windsurfing International Inc v Sailboards Australia Pty Ltd (1986) 19 FCR 110 followed Z Ltd v A-Z & AA-LL [1982] 1 QB 558 referred to James v Robinson (1963) 109 CLR 593 referred to John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd v McRae (1955) 93 CLR 351 referred to Richborough Furniture Ltd [1996] BCLC 507 referred to McCarthy v Wheeler (Hedigan J, 16 September 1998, unreported) referred to Chang Hang Kiu v Piggott [1909] AC 312 referred to ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1992) 38 FCR 248 referred to Australian Securities Investments Commission v Matthews (1999) 32 ACSR 404 referred to Re Bramblevale Ltd [1970] 1 Ch 128 referred to Natcomp Technology Australia Pty Ltd v Graiche (2001) 19 ACLC 1117 discussed Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Austin (1998) 16 ACLC 1555; (1998) 28 ACSR 565 followed Patrick Walker, Commissioner for Fair Trading v Info4pc.com Pty Ltd [2000] WASC 212 considered Rogers v R (1994) 181 CLR 251 followed Gallagher v Durack (1983) 152 CLR 238 referred to Flamingo Park Pty Ltd v Dolly Dolly Creation Pty Ltd (1985) 5 FCR 169 followed Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Goldstar Corp Pty Ltd (Drummond J, 6 November 1998, unreported) referred to Attorney-General v Times Newspapers Ltd [1992] 1 AC 191 referred to McNair Anderson Associates Pty Ltd v Hinch [1985] VR 309 referred to Degman Pty Ltd (in liq) v Wright (No 2) [1983] 2 NSWLR 354 considered Hinch v Attorney-General (1987) 164 CLR 15 referred to Australian Industry Group v Automotive Food Metals Engineering Printing and Kindred Industries Union [2000] FCA 708 referred to BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2002] FCA 792 followed Marron v Salvemini; Re Scardigno [1969] WAR 178 referred to Sunibrite Products (Australia) Pty Ltd v Jabuna Pty Ltd (1980) 47 FLR 73 referred to In the Will of Mary Johnson (1907) 24 WN(NSW) 124 referred to Attorney General v Walthamstow Urban District Council (1895) 11 TLR 533 referred to Lee v Aylesbury Urban District Council (1902) 19 TLR 106 referred to Arundel Chiropractic Centre Pty Ltd v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (2001) 179 ALR 406 referred to AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION v INFO4PC.COM PTY LTD and JAMES RAE S 17 of 2001 RD NICHOLSON J 31 JULY 2002 PERTH