Rural Export & Trading (WA) Pty Ltd v Hahnheuser [2007] FCA 1535

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Rural Export & Trading (WA) Pty Ltd v Hahnheuser [2007] FCA 1535 TRADE PRACTICES – boycotts affecting trade or commerce – contamination of feed for sheep intended for live export – export of all sheep delayed and export of some sheep prevented – whether conduct prevented or substantially hindered the applicants from engaging in trade or commerce – whether hindering encompasses causing to carry out actions to a greater extent than normally required – whether trade or commerce engaged in by supplier of feed to sheep in feedlot, prior to loading of sheep onto ship, was trade or commerce involving the movement of goods between Australia and places outside of Australia – whether exporter carrying on trade or commerce involving the movement of goods between Australia and places outside of Australia – whether perpetrator had dominant purpose substantially related to environmental protection – whether environment includes sheep generally – whether onus as to dominant purpose on party alleging contravention of general provision or on party alleging existence of dominant purpose WORDS AND PHRASES – "in concert", "purpose", "hindering", "involving", "environmental protection"

Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) ss 15AB(2)(e), 15AB(2)(h) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 87(1)(c) Export Control Act 1982 (Cth) s 6(1) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 21(1) Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997 (Cth) s 15 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 4(1), 45D(1), 45DB, 45DD(1), 45DD(2), 45DD(3), 45DD(4), 45DD(5), 45DD(6), 45DD(7), 80(1), 80(4), 82(1), 86(1) Export Control (Animals) Orders O 8, 10A Environment Protection Act 1970 (Vic) s 4 Attorney-General of the Australian Capital Territory On The Relation of Olaseat Pty Ltd v The Australian Capital Territory Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning (1993) 43 FCR 329 cited Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union v Meat and Allied Trades Federation of Australia (1991) 32 FCR 318 cited Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union v Mudginberri Station Pty Ltd (1985) 9 FCR 425 cited Australian Builders' Labourers' Federated Union of Workers – Western Australian Branch v J-Corp Pty Limited (1993) 42 FCR 452 cited Australian Wool Innovation Ltd v Newkirk [2005] FCA 290 cited Australian Wool Innovation Ltd v Newkirk (No 2) [2005] FCA 1307 followed Devenish v Jewel Food Stores Pty Ltd (1991) 172 CLR 32 cited Epitoma Pty Ltd v Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (1984) 3 FCR 55 cited Farah (Australia) Pty Ltd v National Union of Workers NSW Branch (No 1) (1997) ATPR 41-583 discussed F H Transport Pty Ltd v Transport Workers' Union of Australia (1997) 75 FCR 480 discussed Hutchins v Maughan [1947] VLR 131 cited Pollard v Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (1992) 28 NSWLR 659 discussed Queensland v Murphy (1990) 95 ALR 493 followed R v McCrossen [1991] Tas R 1 cited Rimanic v Business Licensing Authority [2001] VSC 400 discussed Tillmanns Butcheries Pty Ltd v Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union (1979) 42 FLR 331 followed Vines v Djordjevitch (1955) 91 CLR 512 cited RURAL EXPORT & TRADING (WA) PTY LTD AND SAMEX AUSTRALIAN MEAT CO PTY LTD v RALPH HAHNHEUSER AND ANIMAL LIBERATION SA INC VID 495 OF 2004