• ACCC role in policing pricing
• Lessons from the GST
• New ACCC powers
• What it means for business?
• View all pages

Reproduced with permission of Norton Rose in accordance with their legal notice and disclaimers.

The Federal Court has handed down a record penalty for misleading advertising.

Partner David Brewster speaks to Boardroom Radio about the court’s reasoning and the implications for business.

To hear David’s interview, go to http://www.aar.com.au/med/audio.htm

Reproduced with permission of Allens Arthur Robinson and in accordance with their terms of use.

In brief: The Federal Government today introduced into Parliament a Bill to prohibit the disclosure of pricing and other information to competitors. Partners Fiona Crosbie (view CV) and David Brewster (view CV) report.

• Background
• Key changes
• Comment

Reproduced with permission of Allens Arthur Robinson and in accordance with their terms of use.

In brief: Recent legislation gives the Australian Securities and Investments Commission broad new search powers, enables the Australian Federal Police to intercept communications when investigating suspected insider trading and market manipulation, and provides for substantially increased penalties for market manipulation offences. Partner Matthew McLennan (view CV), Lawyer Tom Randall and Law Graduate Sikeli Ratu report.

• Background
• Corporations Amendment (No 1) Act 2010
• Penalties for market manipulation offences
• Market integrity regime
• Conclusion

Reproduced with permission of Allens Arthur Robinson and in accordance with their terms of use.

In this edition: we look at the ACCC’s ‘tougher’ approach on mergers; the first Public Warning Notice under the new Australian Consumer Law; two important cartel class actions decisions; the record penalty in the Cabcharge case; and some of the consumer reforms of the Australian Consumer Law.

• Merger update
• ACCC issues first Public Warning Notice
• Class actions
• Record penalty for misuse of market power
• Consumer Law

Reproduced with permission of Allens Arthur Robinson and in accordance with their terms of use.

Brisbane Barrister – David Cormack

In brief: The consumer guarantee provisions in the Australian Consumer Law may have serious implications on the product recall regime in the new legislation. In this part of a continuing series of Focus articles on the detail of the Australian Consumer Law, Partner Annette Hughes (view CV) , Senior Associate Ric Morgan and Lawyer Jess O’Brien report on the interaction between the recall provisions and the consumer guarantees.

Further articles will be published on the new compulsory reporting requirements for product risks and their interaction with similar overseas systems.

• The product recall regime
• Consumer guarantees
• The overlap
• Management of the issue
• Conclusion

Reproduced with permission of Allens Arthur Robinson and in accordance with their terms of use.

In brief: In a case brought by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, the Federal Court has ordered Black and White Cabs Pty Ltd to pay a penalty of $110,000 as a result of an arrangement that contravened the third line forcing provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth). Partner David Brewster (view CV) and Lawyer Jess O’Brien report.

• The Black and White Cabs case
• Implications

Reproduced with permission of Allens Arthur Robinson and in accordance with their terms of use.

The Federal Court has imposed the highest ever penalty for misuse of market power, after Cabcharge Australia Ltd settled with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and was fined $14 million for contravening section 46 of the Trade Practices Act. Partner Kon Stellios (view CV), Senior Associate Helen Anness and Lawyer Jess O’Brien report.

• The misuse of market power provisions in the TPA
• The settlement between the ACCC and Cabcharge
• Implications for Cabcharge
• Conclusion

Reproduced with permission of Allens Arthur Robinson and in accordance with their terms of use.

In brief: The Full Federal Court has handed down fines of nearly five million dollars for breaches of sections 46 and 47 of the Trade Practices Act 1974 in a long-running action by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Partner Jacqueline Downes (view CV) and Lawyer Rachel Chua report.

• The facts
• The decision
• Conclusion

Reproduced with permission of Allens Arthur Robinson and in accordance with their terms of use.