Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 7) [2016] FCA 424

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 7) [2016] FCA 424 File number: NSD 180 of 2015

Judge: EDELMAN J

Date of judgment: 29 April 2016

Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – pecuniary penalties – courses of conduct and totality principle – allegedly similar conduct in the supply of other products not found to be contravening – method of calculating profits from contravening conduct – assumption by parties that "but for" test for calculating profits applies – importance of conduct being intended to make profits – relevance of sales, earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT), and profit figures

Legislation: Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)) ss 18, 33, 87B, 224(1), 224(2), 224(3), 224(4)(b) Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth)

Cases cited: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 330; (2015) 327 ALR 540 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v EDirect Pty Ltd (in liq) [2012] FCA 976; (2012) 206 FCR 160 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 5) [2016] FCA 167 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 4) [2015] FCA 1408 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd [2013] HCA 54; (2013) 250 CLR 640 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Visa Inc [2015] FCA 1020 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Woolworths Limited [2016] FCA 44 Australian Ophthalmic Supplies Pty Ltd v McAlary-Smith [2008] FCAFC 8; (2008) 165 FCR 560 Brosnan v Katke [2016] FCAFC 1 Commonwealth of Australia v Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate [2015] HCA 46; (2015) 90 ALJR 113 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Cahill [2010] FCAFC 39; (2010) 269 ALR 1 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Williams [2009] FCAFC 171; (2009) 191 IR 445 Director of Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2015] FCA 1213 Director of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Bragdon (No 2) [2015] FCA 998 Johnson v The Queen [2004] HCA 15; (2004) 205 ALR 346 Mill v The Queen [1988] HCA 70; (1988) 166 CLR 59 Postiglione v The Queen [1997] HCA 26; (1997) 189 CLR 295 Royer v Western Australia [2009] WASCA 139; (2009) 197 A Crim R 319 SC Johnson & Son Pty Ltd v Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] FCA 1362 SC Johnson & Son Pty Ltd v Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 1266 Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2012] FCAFC 20; (2012) 287 ALR 249 Kahneman D, Thinking, Fast and Slow (Penguin, 2012) Thomas DA, Principles of Sentencing (2nd ed, Heinemann Educational Books Ltd, 1979)