Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dateline Imports Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] FCA 1222

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dateline Imports Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] FCA 1222 Citation: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dateline Imports Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] FCA 1222

Parties: AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION v DATELINE IMPORTS PTY LTD ACN 000 557 282 and DAVID TAYLOR

File number: QUD 300 of 2012

Judge: RANGIAH J

Date of judgment: 18 November 2014

Catchwords: TRADE PRACTICES – contraventions of ss 52(1), 53(a) and 53(c) of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ("the TPA") – utility of declaratory relief – penalty hearing – consideration of principles relevant to fixing penalty under s 76E of the TPA – size and duration of publication of contravening advertisements – contravening conduct not deliberate – existence of indemnity agreement between first respondent and supplier providing for 80% indemnity against any penalty imposed on first respondent – specific and general deterrence – whether indemnity agreement should be taken into account in fixing quantum of penalty – whether orders granting declaratory relief and imposing pecuniary penalties should be made

Legislation: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 2B Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) s 4AA Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 21, 21(1), 43 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 52(1), 53(a) and 53(c), 76E, 76E(2), 77A, 77B Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) rr 1.32, 1.41

Cases cited: ACCC v AirAsia Berhad Company [2012] FCA 1413 cited ACCC v Westminster Retail Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 1299 cited Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Avitalb Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 222 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2007] ATPR 42-140; [2006] FCA 1730 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dataline.Net.Au Pty Ltd (in liquidation) (2007) 161 FCR 513 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dateline Imports Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 791 related Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Francis (2004) 142 FCR 1 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Gordon Superstore Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 452 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (2011) ATPR 42-384; [2011] FCA 1407 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Leahy Petroleum (No 2) (2005) 215 ALR 281 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Leahy Petroleum (No 3) (2005) 215 ALR 301 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Mandurvit Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 464 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Metricon Homes Qld Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 797 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd (No 2) (2011) 279 ALR 609 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v P & N Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 6 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Renegade Gas Pty Ltd (trading as Supagas NSW) [2014] FCA 1135 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd (2003) 250 CLR 640 at [65] cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Turi Foods Pty Ltd (No 5) [2013] FCA 1109 cited BMW Australia Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2004) 207 ALR 452; [2004] FCAFC 167 cited Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd v Darrell Lea Chocolate Shops Pty Ltd (No 3) [2007] FCAFC 119 cited Dias Aluminium Products Pty Ltd v Ullrich Aluminium Pty Ltd (No 2) (2005) 225 ALR 569; [2005] FCA 1400 cited Dodds Family Investments Pty Ltd (formerly Solar Tint Pty Ltd) v Lane Industries Pty Ltd (1993) 26 IPR 261 cited Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Ltd (1972) 127 CLR 421 cited Kosciuszko Thredbo Pty Limited v ThredboNet Marketing Pty Limited (No 2) [2013] FCA 609 cited NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (1996) 71 FCR 285 cited Roadshow Films Pty Ltd v iiNet Ltd (No 4) (2010) 269 ALR 606; [2010] FCA 645 cited Ruddock v Vadarlis (No 2) (2001) 115 FCR 229 cited Rural Press Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2002) 118 FCR 236 cited Rural Press Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2003) 216 CLR 53 cited Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2012) 287 ALR 249; [2012] FCAFC 20 cited TPG Internet Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2012) 210 FCR 277 cited