Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 382

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 382 Citation: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 382

Parties: AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION v MSY TECHNOLOGY PTY LTD ACN 093 529 401, MSY TECHNOLOGY (NSW) PTY LTD 102 819 821, MSY TECHNOLOGY (QLD) PTY LTD ACN 112 112 437, MSY TECHNOLOGY (SA) PTY LTD ACN 123 607 198 and MSY TECHNOLOGY (WA) PTY LTD ACN 132 230 409

File number: NSD 1472 of 2010

Judge: PERRAM J

Date of judgment: 15 April 2011

Catchwords: JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS – Declarations – declarations by consent – power of court to make declarations by consent – proper contradictor – whether party who consents is a "proper contradictor" – principles relating to making declarations on evidence questioned – statement of agreed facts under s 191 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) TRADE PRACTICES – Penalty – pecuniary penalty for contraventions – principles appropriate to order for pecuniary penalty

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Schedule 2 ss 232, 233 Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) s 4AA Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 191 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 50 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 52, 53, 68, 76, 76E, 80, 86C Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Act (No 2) 2010 (Cth) Sch 5, Sch 7 Federal Court Rules O 35A r 3(2)

Cases cited: ACS v Anderson [1975] 1 NSWLR 212 cited Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 considered Allgemeine Deutsche Credit Anstalt v Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society (1907) 15 SLT 427 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v ABB Transmission and Distribution Ltd (2001) ATPR 41-815 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Allergy Pathway Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 960 questioned Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Bridgestone Corporation (2010) 186 FCR 214 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dataline.Net.Au Pty Ltd (2006) 236 ALR 665 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Gourmet Goody's Family Restaurant Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 1216 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Jetplace Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 759 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Leahy Petroleum Pty Ltd (No 3) (2005) 215 ALR 301 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Liquorland (Australia) Pty Ltd (2005) ATPR 42-070 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v McMahon Services Pty Ltd (2004) ATPR 42-031 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Roche Vitamins Australia Pty Ltd (2001) ATPR 41-809 distinguished Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Skins Compression Garments Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 710 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 204 cited Baillie's Trustees v Baillie (1910) 2 SLT 6 cited Bank of Kuwait and the Middle East v Ship MV "Mawishi al Gasseem" (No 2) (2007) 240 ALR 120 cited BMI v Federated Clerks Union of Australia (1983) 6 IR 416 questioned Cook v Cook (1986) 162 CLR 376 cited Cooper v Aaron 358 US 1 (1958) cited Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 230 CLR 89 cited Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Ltd (1972) 127 CLR 421 followed Hanson v Radcliffe Urban District Council [1922] 2 Ch 490 cited Harveys v Harvey's Trustees (1860) 22 SC 1310 cited IMF (Australia) Ltd v Sons of Gwalia Ltd [2004] FCA 1390 cited J McPhee & Son (Aust) Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2000) 172 ALR 532 cited Lang v ACN 078 899 591 Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 987 cited Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 cited Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts v PGP Developments Pty Limited (2010) 183 FCR 10 cited NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (1996) 71 FCR 285 cited Pape v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (2009) 238 CLR 1 cited Russian Commercial and Industrial Bank v British Bank for Foreign Trade Ltd [1921] 2 AC 438 explained Smith v Commissioner of Corrective Services [1978] 1 NSWLR 317 cited Trade Practices Commission v CSR Ltd (1991) ATPR 41-076 cited Trade Practices Commission v ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd (1991) 105 ALR 115 cited Trade Practices Commission v Mobil Oil Australia Ltd (1984) 4 FCR 296 cited Wallersteiner v Moir [1974] 1 WLR 991 questioned Williams v Powell [1894] WN 141 distinguished P W Young QC Declaratory Orders (2nd Ed, 1984)