Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Medibank Private Limited [2020] FCA 1030

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Medibank Private Limited [2020] FCA 1030 File number: VID 942 of 2019

Judge: ANDERSON J

Date of judgment: 16 July 2020

Date of publication of reasons: 22 July 2020

Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – pecuniary penalties – relevant matters to be considered – admitted contraventions of ss 18 and 29(1)(m) of the Australian Consumer Law CONSUMER LAW – pecuniary penalties – statement of agreed facts and admissions – joint submissions as to quantum of pecuniary penalty – appropriateness of proposed pecuniary penalty Held: The Respondent paying a pecuniary penalty of $5 million is appropriate having regard to the particular circumstances of this proceeding

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Schedule 2, ss 18, 29(1)(m), 228(1) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), s 191 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), s 21

Cases cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2018] HCA 3; (2018) 262 CLR 157 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v AGL South Australia Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 399; (2015) 146 ALD 385 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd [2016] FCA 1516; (2016) 118 ACSR 124 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets [2014] FCA 1405 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Limited [2015] FCA 330; (2015) 327 ALR 540 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd [2016] FCAFC 181; (2016) 340 ALR 25 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd [1997] FCA 450; (1997) 145 ALR 36 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 [2010] FCA 790; (2010) 188 FCR 238 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd [2013] HCA 54; (2013) 250 CLR 640 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft [2019] FCA 2166 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Woolworths Limited [2016] FCA 44 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Yazaki Corporation [2018] FCAFC 73; (2018) 262 FCR 243 Commonwealth of Australia v Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate; Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union 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 Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Limited (1972) 127 CLR 421 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mill v The Queen [1988] HCA 70; (1988) 166 CLR 59 NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [1996] FCA 1134; (1996) 71 FCR 285 Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2012] FCAFC 20; (2012) 287 ALR 249 TPG Internet Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2012] FCAFC 190; (2012) 210 FCR 277 Trade Practices Commission v CSR Ltd [1990] FCA 521; (1991) ATPR 41-076