Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Oticon Australia Pty Limited [2018] FCA 1826

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Oticon Australia Pty Limited [2018] FCA 1826 File number: NSD 1689 of 2018

Judge: PERRY J

Date of judgment: 31 October 2018 Date of publication of reasons: 23 November 2018 Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – admitted contraventions of s 18, subss 29(1)(g), 29(1)(i) and 29(1)(m), Australian Consumer Law – misleading or deceptive representations made in advertisements published in newspapers across Australia in relation to hearing aids and the Australian Government Hearing Program subsidising the cost of hearing products and services for eligible consumers – consideration of principles in relation to determining whether to give effect to an agreed penalty and other agreed orders – where public importance in sending a strong message of deterrence with respect to conduct directed towards a vulnerable class, namely, elderly Australians in receipt of government pensions – where high degree of co-operation by the respondents with the ACCC and contraventions admitted

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Fair Trading Act 1999 (Vic) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Cases cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 .au Domain Administration Ltd v Domain Names Australia Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 424; (2004) 207 ALR 521 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Apple Pty Ltd (No 4) [2018] FCA 953 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd (1997) 145 ALR 36 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Birubi Art Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 1595 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 1405 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Limited [2014] FCA 634; (2014) 317 ALR 73 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Limited [2015] FCA 330; (2015) 327 ALR 540 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2017] FCAFC 113; (2017) 254 FCR 68 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dataline.Net.Au Pty Ltd (in liquidation) [2007] FCAFC 146; (2007) 161 FCR 513 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Hillside (Australia New Media) Pty Ltd trading as Bet365 (No 2) [2016] FCA 698 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Homeopathy Plus! Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2015] FCA 1090 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Pental Limited [2018] FCA 491 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (1999) 161 ALR 79 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 Telstra Corporation Ltd [2004] FCA 987; (2004) 208 ALR 459 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Turi Foods Pty Ltd (No 4) [2013] FCA 665 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 Yazaki Corporation [2018] FCAFC 73; (2018) 357 ALR 55 Australian Securities & Investments Commission v Westpac Banking Corporation [2018] FCA 1733 Barbaro v The Queen [2014] HCA 2; (2014) 253 CLR 58 BMW Australia Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2004] FCAFC 167; (2004) 207 ALR 452 Campbell v Backoffıce Investments Pty Ltd [2009] HCA 25; (2009) 238 CLR 304 Campomar Sociedad Limitada v Nike International Ltd [2000] HCA 12; (2000) 202 CLR 45 Commonwealth v Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate [2015] HCA 46; (2015) 258 CLR 482 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Cahill [2010] FCAFC 39; (2010) 269 ALR 1 CPA Australia Ltd v Dunn [2007] FCA 1966 Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Ltd (1972) 127 CLR 421 Global Sportsman Pty Ltd v Mirror Newspapers Pty Ltd (1984) 2 FCR 82 Hadgkiss v Aldin (No 2) [2007] FCA 2069 Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59 Noone (Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria) v Operation Smile (Australia) Inc [2012] VSCA 91; (2012) 38 VR 569 NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (1996) 71 FCR 285 Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd v Puxu Pty Ltd (1982) 149 CLR 191 Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2012] FCAFC 20; (2012) 287 ALR 249 Trade Practices Commission v CSR Limited (1991) 13 ATPR ¶41-076