Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Renegade Gas Pty Ltd (trading as Supagas NSW) [2014] FCA 1135

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Renegade Gas Pty Ltd (trading as Supagas NSW) [2014] FCA 1135 Citation: Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Renegade Gas Pty Ltd (trading as Supagas NSW) [2014] FCA 1135

Parties: AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION v RENEGADE GAS PTY LTD (TRADING AS SUPAGAS NSW) (ACN 074 008 496), SPEED-E-GAS (NSW) PTY LTD (ACN 064 624 915), PAUL BERMAN, COREY JOHN SMITH and JAY RUSSELL WILSON

File number: NSD 1239 of 2012

Judge: GORDON J

Date of judgment: 24 October 2014

Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – Penalty hearing – admitted contraventions – orders sought by consent – appropriate relief in the circumstances – declaratory relief – pecuniary penalties – injunctions – probation order – disqualification order – Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), ss 21, 44ZZRD, 44ZZRK, 45, 76, 80, 86C, 86E

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) Federal Court Act 1976 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Trade Practices Amendment (Cartel Conduct and Other Measures) Act 2009 (Cth) Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Act (No 1) 2006 (Cth)

Cases cited: Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v 4WD Systems Pty Ltd [2003] FCA 850 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v ABB Transmission and Distribution (No 2) (2002) 190 ALR 169 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v AGL Sales Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 1030 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Energy Australia Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 336 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Fila Sport Oceania Pty Ltd (admin appt'd) [2004] FCA 376 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Francis (2004) 142 FCR 1 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Halkalia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] FCA 535 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Harbin Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 1792 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Hewlett-Packard Australia Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 653 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v IPM Operation & Maintenance Loy Yang Pty Ltd (No 2) [2007] FCA 11 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Leahy Petroleum Pty Ltd (No 2) (2005) 215 ALR 281 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd (2012) 201 FCR 378 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Pepe's Ducks Ltd [2013] FCA 570 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Powerballwin.com.au Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 378 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Rural Press Ltd [2001] FCA 1065 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Safe Breast Imaging Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] FCA 998 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Seal-A-Fridge Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 525 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Telstra Corporation Ltd (2010) 188 FCR 238 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v TF Woollam & Son Pty Ltd (2011) 196 FCR 212 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd [2013] HCA 54 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Virgin Mobile Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2002] FCA 1548 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Wizard Mortgage Corp Ltd [2002] FCA 1317 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Z-Tek Computer Pty Ltd (1997) 78 FCR 197 Australian Securities Commission v Donovan (1998) 28 ACSR 583 Australian Securities Commission v Forem-Freeway Enterprises Pty Ltd (1999) 30 ACSR 339 Australian Securities Commission v Roussi (1999) 32 ACSR 568 Australian Securities & Investments Commission v Hutchings (2001) 38 ACSR 387 Australian Securities & Investments Commission v Ingleby (2013) 93 ACSR 274 Australian Securities & Investments Commission v Parkes (2001) 38 ACSR 355 Australian Securities & Investments Commission v Pegasus Leveraged Options Group Pty Ltd (2002) 41 ACSR 561 Australian Securities & Investments Commission v Vizard (2005) 145 FCR 57 BMW Australia Ltd v Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (2004) 207 ALR 452 Commissioner for Corporate Affairs (WA) v Ekamper (1987) 12 ACLR 519 Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria v Dimmeys Stores Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 1371 Director of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2013] FCA 1014 Fair Work Ombudsman v A Dalley Holdings Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 509 Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Ltd (1972) 127 CLR 421 Gillfillan v Australian Securities & Investment Commission [2012] NSWCA 370 Global One Mobile Entertainment Pty Ltd v Australian Competition & Consumer Commission [2012] FCAFC 134 ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1992) 38 FCR 248 IMF (Australia) Ltd v Sons of Gwalia Ltd (admin apptd) (2004) 211 ALR 231 J McPhee & Son (Australia) Pty Ltd v Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (2000) 172 ALR 532 Kerkhoffs v Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations [2014] FCAFC 66 Minister for Industry, Tourism & Resources v Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd [2004] FCAFC 72 NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (1996) 71 FCR 285 Re Civica Investments Ltd [1983] BCLC 456 Re Gold Coast Holdings Pty Ltd (in liq); Australian Securities & Investments Commission v Papotto (2000) 35 ACSR 107 Re Tasmanian Spastics Association; Australian Securities Commission v Nandan (1997) 23 ACSR 743 Rural Press Ltd v Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (2003) 216 CLR 53 Schneider Electric (Aust.) Pty Ltd v Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (2003) 127 FCR 170 Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Australian Competition & Consumer Commission [2012] FCAFC 20 Tax Practitioners Board v Shanahan [2013] FCA 764 Tobacco Institute of Australia Ltd v Australian Federation of Consumer Organisations Inc (No 2) (1993) 41 FCR 89 TPG Internet v Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (2012) 210 FCR 277 Trade Practices Commission v CSR Ltd (1991) ATPR 41-076 Trade Practices Commission v Stihl Chain Saws (Aust) Pty Ltd [1978] ATPR 40-091