Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Bio Enviro Plan Pty Ltd [2003] FCA 232

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Bio Enviro Plan Pty Ltd [2003] FCA 232 TRADE PRACTICES – misleading or deceptive conduct, false representations, referral selling, wrongful acceptance of payment, false or misleading representations and pyramid selling – worm farming schemes – case against corporate respondents uncontroverted – whether accessorial liability in other respondents – whether such respondents had actual knowledge of the essential facts giving rise to the contraventions – effect of statements from the bar table - relief Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 5(1), 51A, 52, 53(aa), 53(c), 53(g), 57, 58(a), 59, 59(2), 61, 61(1), 61(2), 75B, 75B(a), 75B(c), 80, 80(1)(a), 80(1)(c), 80(1)(e), 80A, 83, Pt V Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 21, Yorke v Lucas (1985) 158 CLR 661 followed Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 applied Compac Computer Australia Pty Ltd v Merry (1998) 157 ALR 1 cited HECEC Australia Pty Ltd v Hydro-Electric Corporation (1999) ATPR 46-196 cited Williams v FAI Home Security (No 2) [2000] FCA 726 cited Pereira v Director of Public Prosecutions (1989) 82 ALR 217 applied

AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION & CONSUMER COMMISSION v THE BIO ENVIRO PLAN PTY LTD, BUYPLUS COMMODITIES BROKERS PTY LTD, GREENSTAR CO-OPERATIVE LIMITED, GREENSTAR MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, KEVIN ROBERT SMITH, PAUL ANTHONY HAIGH, TREVOR SAMPSON, NICK LUDKINS and PAUL MARONI W208 of 2001 RD NICHOLSON J 24 MARCH 2003 PERTH

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

WESTERN AUSTRALIA DISTRICT REGISTRY W208 OF 2001

BETWEEN: AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION & CONSUMER COMMISSION

APPLICANT

AND: THE BIO ENVIRO PLAN PTY LTD

(ACN 078 395 687)

FIRST RESPONDENT

BUYPLUS COMMODITIES BROKERS PTY LTD

(ACN 086 551 171)