Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v AGL South Australia Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 399

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v AGL South Australia Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 399 Citation: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v AGL South Australia Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 399

Parties: AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION v AGL SOUTH AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

File number: SAD 355 of 2013

Judge: WHITE J

Date of judgment: 29 April 2015

Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – Penalty hearing – contraventions of ss 29(1)(g), 29(1)(i) and 18(1) of the Australian Consumer Law – whether orders sought by consent appropriate in the circumstances – factors bearing on size of pecuniary penalties – non-party consumer redress – publication and disclosure orders

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) ss 224, 239, 240, 241, 243, 246, 247; Sch 2 ss 18, 29 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 87AAA

Cases cited: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v ABB Transmission and Distribution Limited [2001] ATPR 41-815 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v AGL Sales Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 1030 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v BAJV Pty Ltd [2014] FCAFC 52 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v EnergyAustralia Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 274 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Mitsubishi Electric Australia Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 1413 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Origin Energy Limited [2015] FCA 55 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Singtel Optus Pty Ltd (No 4) [2011] FCA 761; (2011) 282 ALR 246 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Virgin Mobile Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2002] FCA 1548 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Yellow Page Marketing BV (No 2) [2011] FCA 352; (2011) 195 FCR 1 Barbaro v The Queen [2014] HCA 2; (2014) 305 ALR 323 Green v The Queen [2011] HCA 49; (2011) 244 CLR 462 Lowe v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 606 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Medibank Private Ltd v Cassidy [2002] FCAFC 290; (2002) 124 FCR 40 Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources v Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd [2004] FCAFC 72 NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (1996) 71 FCR 285 R v Allen [2005] QCA 73 R v Bandjak [2011] SASCFC 19; (2011) 109 SASR 315 R v McInerney (1986) 42 SASR 111 R v Mickelberg (1984) 13 A Crim R 365 R v O'Keefe [1959] Qd R 395 R v Phelan (1993) 66 A Crim R 446 R v Sheehan [2007] QCA 409 R v Wirth (1976) 14 SASR 291 Ryan v The Queen [2001] HCA 21; (2001) 206 CLR 267 Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2012] FCAFC 20; (2012) 287 ALR 249 Trade Practices Commission v CSR Limited [1991] ATPR 41-076 Weininger v The Queen [2003] HCA 14; (2003) 212 CLR 629