Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd [2012] FCA 1392

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd (No 3) [2012] FCA 1392 Citation: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd [2012] FCA 1392

Parties: AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION v CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS LTD (ARBN 000 479 514)

File number: NSD 363 of 2009

Judge: KATZMANN J

Date of judgment: 6 December 2012

Catchwords: COMPETITION – price-fixing – collusive understandings – respondent admitted to contraventions of s 45(2) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) – enforcement and remedies – application for pecuniary penalties and injunctions under ss 76 and 80 – agreed penalties and injunctions – whether contraventions occurred – whether the proposed penalties appropriate – matters relevant to imposition of penalty – admissions not made until a week before hearing– parity with penalties imposed in similar cases

Legislation: Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) 45, 45(2)(a)(ii), 45(2)(b)(ii), 45A, 76, 77

Cases cited: Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Japan Airlines International Co Ltd (2011) ATPR ¶42-352; [2011] FCA 365 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Emirates [2012] FCA 1108 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v J McPhee & Son (Australia) Pty Ltd (1998) ATPR ¶41-628; [1998] FCA 310 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Qantas Airways Ltd (2008) 253 ALR 89 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Real Estate Institute of Western Australia Inc (1999) 161 ALR 79 J McPhee & Son (Australia) Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2000) 172 ALR 532. Minister for Industry, Tourism & Resources v Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd (2004) ATPR ¶41-993; [2004] FCAFC 72 NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (1996) 71 FCR 285