Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Limited [2014] FCA 634

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Limited [2014] FCA 634 Citation: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Limited [2014] FCA 634

Parties: AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION v COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED (ACN 004 189 708)

File number: VID 475 of 2013

Judge: ALLSOP CJ

Date of judgment: 18 June 2014

Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – Australian Consumer Law ss 18(1), 29(1)(a), 33 – Misleading or deceptive conduct or conduct likely to mislead or deceive, false or misleading representations, conduct liable to mislead the public – Whether the use of the phrases "baked today, sold today", "freshly baked", "baked fresh" and "freshly baked in-store" is misleading where the complete baking process is not undertaken in-store on the day – Whether the relevant context for assessing misleading or deceptive conduct includes a cynical consumer culture PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Admissibility of evidence – relevance – whether evidence of third party conduct is relevant – hearsay – whether statements made by third parties serve a non-hearsay purpose

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2 (Australian Consumer Law), ss 18(1), 29(1), 33 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 78, 79, 191(2)

Cases cited: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dukemaster Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 682 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd [2013] HCA 54; 304 ALR 186 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Turi Foods Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 665 Butcher v Lachlan Elder Realty Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 60; 218 CLR 592 Campomar Sociedad Limitada v Nike International [2000] HCA 12; 202 CLR 45 CRW Pty Ltd v Sneddon (1972) AR (NSW) 17 Fraser v NRMA Holdings Ltd (1994) 124 ALR 548 Google Inc v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2013] HCA 1; 294 ALR 404 Interlego AG v Croner Trading Pty Ltd (1992) 39 FCR 348 Keehn v Medical Benefits Fund of Australia Ltd (1977) 14 ALR 77 Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd v Puxu Pty Ltd [1982] HCA 44; 149 CLR 191 Reckitt & Coleman Products Ltd v Borden Inc [1990] 1 WLR 491; 17 IPR 1 Ritz Hotel Ltd v Charles of the Ritz Ltd (1987) 14 NSWLR 104 Taco Company of Australia v Taco Bell Pty Ltd (1982) 42 ALR 177 Tobacco Institute of Australia Limited v Australian Federation of Consumer Organisations Inc (1992) 38 FCR 1 Trade Practices Commission v J & R Enterprises (1991) 99 ALR 325 Westpac Banking Corporation v Northern Metals Pty Ltd (1989) 14 IPR 499 Secondary Materials: Shorter Oxford Dictionary on Historical Principles 3rd edition, vol 1 Date of hearing: 20 February 2014