Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 1405

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 1405 Citation: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 1405

Parties: AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION v COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD (ACN 004 189 708) and GROCERY HOLDINGS PTY LTD (ACN 007 427 581)

File numbers: VID 253 of 2014 VID 609 of 2014

Judge: GORDON J

Date of judgment: 22 December 2014

Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – unconscionable conduct – admitted contraventions of Australian Consumer Law – unconscionable conduct in business transactions – dealings with suppliers – threats of commercial consequences if demands not met – demanding payments – refusing to pay or repay money – enforcement and remedies – s 87B undertaking – orders sought by consent – appropriate relief in the circumstances

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth)

Cases cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Alvaton Holdings Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 760 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd (1997) ATPR 41-562 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Limited (No 2) [2014] FCA 1022 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Dataline.Net.Au Pty Ltd (2006) 236 ALR 665 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Dataline.Net.Au Pty Ltd (2007) 161 FCR 513 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Econovite Pty Ltd [2003] FCA 964 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Global One Mobile Entertainment Limited [2011] FCA 393 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Lux Distributors Pty Ltd [2013] FCAFC 90 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd (2012) 201 FCR 378 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Real Estate Institute of Western Australia Inc (1999) 161 ALR 79 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Renegade Gas Pty Ltd (trading as Supagas NSW) [2014] FCA 1135 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Target Australia Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1326 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2007) ATPR 42-140 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Virgin Mobile Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2002] FCA 1548 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Woolworths (South Australia) Pty Ltd (Trading as Mac's Liquor) [2003] FCA 530 BMW Australia Ltd v Australian Competition & Consumer Commission [2004] FCAFC 167 Cameron v Qantas Airways Ltd (1995) 55 FCR 147 Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Ltd (1972) 127 CLR 421 Global One Mobile Entertainment Pty Ltd v Australian Competition & Consumer Commission [2012] FCAFC 134 Hadgkiss v Aldin (No 2) [2007] FCA 2069 Hurley v McDonalds Australia Ltd (2000) ATPR 41-741 NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (1996) 71 FCR 285 Ponzio v B & P Caelli Constructions Pty Ltd (2007) 158 FCR 543 Secretary, Department of Health & Ageing v Pagasa Australia Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 1545 Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Australian Competition & Consumer Commission [2012] FCAFC 20 Tobacco Institute of Australia Ltd v Australian Federation of Consumer Organisations Inc (No 2) (1993) 41 FCR 89 Thomson Australian Holdings Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1981) 148 CLR 150