Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Cement Australia Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 453

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Cement Australia Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 453 File number(s): QUD 295 of 2008

Judge(s): GREENWOOD J

Date of judgment: 29 April 2016

Catchwords: COMPETITION – consideration of the principles governing the assessment of a pecuniary penalty under s 76 of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) now the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) – consideration of the implications of the decision of the High Court in Commonwealth v Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate (2015) 326 ALR 476 in determining a penalty under s 76 of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) – consideration of approaches to assessing benefit derived by participants to contravening conduct and market harm caused by contravening conduct – consideration of approaches to determining the "but for" price which would have prevailed in a contestable market had the relevant participants not engaged in the contravening conduct – consideration of the utility of such an exercise

Legislation: Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), ss 45(2)(a)(ii), 45(2)(b)(ii), 76(1)

Cases cited: AB v The Queen (1999) 198 CLR 111 Attorney-General v Tichy (1982) 30 SASR 84 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v George Weston Foods Ltd [2000] ATPR 41-763 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Rural Press Ltd [2001] ATPR 41-833 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v ABB Transmission and Distribution Ltd (No 2) (2002) 190 ALR 169 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Visy Paper Pty Ltd (No 2) (2004) 212 ALR 564 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Humax Pty Ltd [2005] ATPR 42-072 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Leahy Petroleum Pty Ltd (No 3) (2005) 215 ALR 301 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Liquorland (Australia) Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 1799 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Safeway Stores Pty Ltd [2006] ATPR 42-101 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Qantas Airways Ltd (2008) 253 ALR 89 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v PRK Corporation Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 715 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 929 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd [1996] ATPR 41-515 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Pioneer Concrete (Qld) Pty Limited [1996] ATPR 41-457 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Foamlite (Australia) Pty Ltd [1998] ATPR 41-615 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v J McPhee & Son (Australia) Pty Ltd [1998] ATPR 41-628 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Tyco Australia Pty Ltd [2000] ATPR 41-740 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Tubemakers Australia Pty Ltd [2000] ATPR 41-745 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Roche Vitamins Australia Pty Ltd [2001] ATPR 41-809 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v ABB Transmission and Distribution Limited [2001] ATPR 41-815; [2001] FCA 383 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Ithaca Ice Works Pty Ltd [2002] ATPR 41-851 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Kokos International Pty Ltd (No 2) [2008] ATPR 42-212 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Cement Australia Pty Ltd (2013) 310 ALR 165; [2013] FCA 909 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd (2013) 250 CLR 640 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Cement Australia Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 148 Australian Ophthalmic Supplies Pty Ltd v McAlary-Smith (2008) 165 FCR 560 Barbaro v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 58 Boral Besser Masonry Limited v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2013) 215 CLR 374 Clean Energy Regulator v MT Solar Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 205 Commonwealth v Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate (2015) 326 ALR 476; [2015] HCA 46 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Cahill (2010) 269 ALR 1 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union and Another v Williams (2009) 262 ALR 417 Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2015) 229 FCR 331; 320 ALR 631; 105 ACSR 403; [2015] FCAFC 59 Global One Mobile Entertainment Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2012] ATPR 42-419 J McPhee & Son (Australia) Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2000) 172 ALR 532 Johnson v The Queen (2004) 205 ALR 346 Kirin-Amgen Inc v Hoechst Marion Roussel Ltd (2004) 64 IPR 444; [2004] UKHL 46 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mornington Inn Pty Ltd v Jordan (2008) 168 FCR 383 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610 Refrigerated Express Lines (A/Asia Pty Ltd v Australian Meat and Livestock Corp (1980) 44 FLR 455 Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations v Matcham (No 2) (2014) 97 ACSR 412 Royer v Western Australia (2009) 197 A Crim R 319 Schneider Electric (Australia) Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2003) 127 FCR 170 Secretary, Department of Health and Ageing v Export Corporation (Australia) Pty Ltd (2012) 288 ALR 702 Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2012) 287 ALR 249 Trade Practices Commission v Stihl Chain Saws (Aust) Pty Ltd [1978] ATPR 40-091 Trade Practices Commission v CSR Ltd [1991] ATPR 41-076 Trade Practices Commission v Axive Pty Ltd [1994] ATPR 42-782 Trade Practices Commission v Prestige Motors Pty Ltd [1994] ATPR 42-693 Trade Practices Commission v TNT Australia Pty Ltd [1995] ATPR 41-375 Trade Practices Commission v Hymix Industries [1995] ATPR 41-369 Trade Practices Commission v Hymix Industries [1996] ATPR 41-465 Trade Practices Commission v Simsmetal [1996] ATPR 41-449 Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2003) 131 FCR 529 Wong v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 584 Yorke v Lucas (1985) 158 CLR 661