Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Service Seeking Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 1040

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Service Seeking Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 1040 File number: WAD 588 of 2018

Judge: JACKSON J

Date of judgment: 22 July 2020

Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW - misleading or deceptive conduct - application by regulator for declarations, pecuniary penalty and other orders - respondent admits it contravened s 18, s 29(e) and s 34 of the Australian Consumer Law - parties agreed facts and orders to determine proceeding - whether appropriate to make the orders sought by the parties - agreed contraventions borne out by the evidence - appropriate to grant declarations and injunction sought in the circumstances - consideration of principles relevant to assessing penalties - impugned conduct can be characterised as one course of conduct - proposed penalty appropriate in all the circumstances

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Schedule 2 (Australian Consumer Law) ss 18, 29, 34, 224, 232, Part 3-1

Cases cited: Aqua-Marine Marketing Pty Ltd v Pacific Reef Fisheries (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 5) [2012] FCA 908 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2017] FCAFC 113; (2017) 254 FCR 68 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 330; (2015) 327 ALR 540 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 634; (2014) 317 ALR 73 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dukemaster Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 682 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 Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd [2016] FCAFC 181; (2016) 340 ALR 25 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Sampson [2011] FCA 1165 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 STA Travel Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 723 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 Campomar Sociedad, Limitada v Nike International Ltd [2000] HCA 12; (2000) 202 CLR 45 Commonwealth of Australia 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 Russian Commercial and Industrial Bank v British Bank for Foreign Trade Ltd [1921] 2 AC 438 Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2012] FCAFC 20; (2012) 287 ALR 249 Trade Practices Commission v CSR Ltd [1990] FCA 521; (1991) ATPR 41-076