Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v ABG Pages Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 764

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v ABG Pages Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 764 File number: QUD 931 of 2016

Judge: RANGIAH J

Date of judgment: 16 March 2018

Date of publication of reasons: 28 May 2018

Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – penalty hearing – admitted contraventions of the Australian Consumer Law – declarations – injunctions – pecuniary penalties – agreed facts and admissions – whether appropriate to make the orders sought by parties

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Sch 2 Australian Consumer Law ss 18, 21, 22, 29, 50, 224(1)(e), 224(2), 246, 248, Ch 2 and Ch 3 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) ss 86E and 137H(3) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 86E, 206C and 206EA Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 191 Explanatory Memorandum, Competition and Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 21

Cases cited: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd (2015) 327 ALR 540 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v High Adventure Pty Ltd (2006) ATPR 42-091 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Real Estate Institute of Western Australia Inc (1999) 161 ALR 79 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd (2016) 340 ALR 25 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Virgin Mobile Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2002] FCA 1548 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Z-Tek Computers Pty Ltd (1997) 78 FCR 197 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2017] FCAFC 113 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd (2015) 327 ALR 540 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2007) ATPR 42-140 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dataline.Net.Au Pty Ltd (in liquidation) and Others (2007) 161 FCR 513 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v EDirect Pty Ltd (in liq) (2012) 206 FCR 160 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Excite Mobile Pty Ltd (No 2) [2013] FCA 1267 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Halkalia (No 2) [2012] FCA 535 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v High Adventure Pty Ltd (2006) ATPR 42–091 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Homeopathy Plus! Australia Pty Limited (No 2) [2015] FCA 1090 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Leahy Petroleum Pty Ltd (No 2) (2005) 215 ALR 281 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Lifestyle Photographers Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 1538 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Maritime Union of Australia and Others (2001) 114 FCR 472 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Marksun Pty Ltd (2011) ATPR 42-363 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd (2012) 201 FCR 378 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Safeway Stores Pty Ltd (1997) 145 ALR 36 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Singtel Optus Pty Ltd (No 4) (2011) 282 ALR 246 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v SIP Australia Pty Ltd (2003) ATPR 41–937 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Sontax Australia (1988) Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 1202; [2011] ATPR 42-379 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v South East Melbourne Cleaning Pty Ltd (in liq) (formerly known as Coverall Cleaning Concepts South East Melbourne Pty Ltd) [2015] FCA 25 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd (2013) 250 CLR 640 Australian Securities and Investment Commission v Adler (2002) 42 ACSR 80 BMW Australia Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2004) 207 ALR 452 Cameron v Qantas Airways Ltd (1995) 55 FCR 147 Commonwealth v Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate (2015) 258 CLR 482 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Cahill (2010) 269 ALR 1 Director of Consumer Affairs (Victoria) v Hocking Stuart (Richmond) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2016] FCA 1435 Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Limited (1972) 127 CLR 421 Hadgkiss v Aldin (No 2) [2007] FCA 2069 Hurley v McDonalds Australia Ltd [1999] FCA 1728 ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd v TPC (1992) 38 FCR 248 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mikasa (NSW) Pty Ltd v Festival Stores (1972) 127 CLR 617 Pagasa Australia Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 1545 Rich v Australian Securities and Investment Commission (2004) 220 CLR 129 Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2012] FCAFC 20 Tobacco Institute of Australia Ltd v Australian Federation of Consumer Organisations Inc (No 2) (1993) 41 FCR 89 TPC v CSR Ltd (1991) ATPR 41-076 TPC v TNT Australia Pty Ltd (1995) ATPR 41-375