Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Mazda Australia Pty Ltd [2021] FCA 1493

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Mazda Australia Pty Ltd [2021] FCA 1493 File number(s): VID 1169 of 2019

Judgment of: O'CALLAGHAN J

Date of judgment: 30 November 2021

Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – prohibition on misleading or deceptive conduct under s 18 of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) – prohibition on certain false or misleading representations under s 29(1)(m) of the ACL – statutory guarantee as to acceptable quality under s 54 of the ACL – consumer's entitlement to reject goods under s 259 of the ACL – representations made as to consumer rights under statutory guarantee provisions of the ACL – representations made as to supplier's right to repair goods regardless of consumer's entitlement to reject goods – representations made in the nature of opinions – whether reasonable basis existed for making representations in the nature of opinions – where supplier gave no consideration to consumers' entitlements to a refund or replacement under the ACL – whether misleading or deceptive CONSUMER LAW – prohibition on unconscionable conduct under s 21 of the ACL – where no allegation of "system" or "pattern" of conduct – whether respondent's conduct unconscionable

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Schedule 2 ss 3, 7, 18, 18(1), 21, 22, 29(1), 29(1)(m), 54, 54(2)(c), 259, 259(2), 259(2)(b), 259(3), 259(3)(a), 260, 260(1)(a), 260(1)(c), 260(1)(e), 262, 262(1), 262(2), 263, 263(4), 263(4)(a), 263(4)(b), 263(6), Parts 3-2, Part 5-4, Part 5-4 Div 1 Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) r 5.04(3) item 19

Cases cited: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Delor Vue Apartments CTS 39788 [2021] FCAFC 121; (2021) 153 ACSR 522 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Jayco Corporation Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 1672 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Jewellery Group Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 848; (2012) 293 ALR 335 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Quantum Housing Group Pty Ltd [2021] FCAFC 40; (2021) 388 ALR 577 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd (2013) 250 CLR 640 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd (2020) 278 FCR 450 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Valve Corporation (No 3) [2016] FCA 196; (2016) 337 ALR 647 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v AGM Markets Pty Ltd (No 3) (2020) 275 FCR 57 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Kobelt (2019) 267 CLR 1 Butcher v Lachlan Elder Realty Pty Ltd (2004) 218 CLR 592 Campbell v Backoffice Investments Pty Ltd (2009) 238 CLR 304 Capic v Ford Motor Company (No 3) [2017] FCA 771 ConAgra Inc v McCain Foods (Aust) Pty Ltd (1992) 33 FCR 302 Hall (Inspector of Taxes) v Lorimer [1992] 1 WLR 939 Global Sportsman Pty Ltd v Mirror Newspapers Ltd (1984) 2 FCR 82 Google Inc v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2013) 249 CLR 435 Medtel Pty Ltd v Courtney (2003) 130 FCR 182 Paciocco v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (2016) 258 CLR 525 Transport Industries Insurance Co Ltd v Longmuir [1997] 1 VR 125 Unique International College Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2018) 266 FCR 631 Vautin v By Winddown, Inc. (formerly Bertram Yachts) (No 4) [2018] FCA 426; (2018) 362 ALR 702