Benchmark Certification Pty Ltd v Standards Australia International Ltd [2004] FCA 1489

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Benchmark Certification Pty Ltd v Standards Australia International Ltd [2004] FCA 1489 PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE –Preliminary discovery – O 15A r 6 of Federal Court Rules – application in relation to possible cause of action for misuse of market power – uncertainty as to essential element of cause of action arising from insufficient evidence of possible relevant market – failure to satisfy O 15A r 6 (a) TRADE AND COMMERCE – Restrictive Trade Practices – Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) – Misuse of market power – allegation of statutory monopoly for certification of plumbing standards market – application for preliminary discovery under O 15A r 6 - insufficient evidence to establish relevant market

Federal Court Rules, O 15A r 6 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), ss 4E, 46(2)(a), 45, 45(2)(b)(ii), 45(8), 46, 46(1)(c), 46(2)(a), 46(7), 51(1)(b)(ii), 75B, 80, 82 Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth), Part 16, ss 170, 173 Sydney Water Act 1994 (NSW), regs 5, 15(2) Sydney Water Regulation 2000 (NSW), reg 6(2) Local Government (Approvals) Regulation 1999 (NSW) Plumbing Regulations 1998 (Vic) Building Act 1993 (Vic) Waterworks Regulations 1996 (SA) Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage By Laws 1981 (WA), reg 28.6.2(e) Standard Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2003 (QLD), reg 30(1) Water and Sewerage Regulations 2001(ACT), reg 6(2), 18(2) Water and Sewerage Act 2000 (ACT), s 15(1B)

Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Australia's Standards and Conformance Infrastructure, March 1995

Alphapharm Pty Ltd v Ely Lilly Australia Pty Ltd [1996] FCA 391 applied Glowatzki v Insultech Group Pty Ltd & Anor (1998) 39 IPR 215 cited Mark Lyons Pty Ltd v Bursill Sports Gear Pty Ltd (1987) 76 ALR 581 cited Regents Pty Ltd v Subaru (Aust) Pty Ltd (1998) 84 FCR 218 cited Re Queensland Cooperative Milling Association Ltd; Re Defiance Holdings Limited (1976) 25 FLR 169 cited Queensland Wire Industries Pty Ltd v Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd (1989) 167 CLR 177 cited Warman International v Envirotech Australia Pty Ltd (1986) 11 FCR 478 cited Fencott v Muller (1983) 152 CLR 570 applied Yorke v Lucas (1985) 158 CLR 661 applied