Case Summaries
Select case for brief summary and link (where available) to full case.
A
ACCC v April International Marketing Services Australia Pty Ltd (No 8)
[2011] FCA 153
Foreign cartel with effect of price fixing in Australia contrary to s 45. Penalty principles.
ACCC v Australian Abalone Pty Ltd [2007] FCA 1834
Admitted price fixing and boycott conduct - discussion of agreed penalties and mention of propsed criminal penalties
ACCC v Australian Medical Association Western Australian Branch Inc [2003] FCA 686; (2003) ATPR 41-945 [external case link]
Price fixing, market definition
ACCC v Australian Safeway Stores Pty Limited [2003] FCAFC 149 (30 June 2003) [external case link]
Misuse of market power, exclusive dealing, price fixing
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Baxter Healthcare [2007] HCA 38 (29 August 2007) [external case link]
Misuse of market power, exlusive dealing
ACCC v Black & White Cabs Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 1399
Exclusive dealing (third line forcing)
ACCC v British Airways PLC (2008) ATPR 42-265; [2008] FCA 1977 [external case link]
Collusive conduct - SLC - Penalties - Admission of liability
ACCC v Cabcharge [2010] FCA 1261
Contraventions admitted - misuse of market power (refusal to deal/predatory pricing)
ACCC v Dermalogica Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 152; (2005) 215 ALR 482 [external case link]
Resale price maintenance
ACCC v IGC Dorel Pty Ltd
[2010] FCA 1303 (10 December 2010)
Resale price maintenance - agreed penalties
ACCC v Jurlique International Pty Ltd [2007] FCA 79 [external case link]
Resale price maintenance
ACCC v Leahy Petroleum Pty Ltd [2007] FCA 794 (29 May 2007)
Price fixing - meaning of 'contract, arrangement or understanding' (held no contravention)
ACCC v Liquorland (Australia) Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 826 (30 June 2006)
Exclusionary provisions, anti-competitive agreements
ACCC v Metcash Trading Limited [2011] FCA 967 (25 August 2011)
Merger - held merger not likely to SLC
[Note: awaiting decision of Full Federal Court]
ACCC v Mobil Oil Australia Ltd (1997) ATPR 41–568
Price fixing. Pleadings. Parallel conduct.
ACCC v QANTAS Airways Ltd (2008) ATPR 42-266; [2008] FCA 1976 [external case link]
Collusive conduct - SLC - Penalties - Admission of liability
ACCC v Singapore Airlines Cargo Pty Ltd (2009) ATPR 42-288; [2009] FCA 510 [external case link]
Market definition
ACCC v TF Woollam & Son Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 973 (24 August 2011)
Price fixing - cover pricing in building tenders
ACCC v Ticketek Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 1489 (22 December 2011)
Misuse of market power (consent orders - $2.5m penalty)
ACCC v Visy Industries Holdings Pty Limited (No 3) [2007] FCA 1617 (2 November 2007)
Admission of cartel conduct - penalties of $36m + imposed
Apco Service Stations Pty Ltd v ACCC [2005] FCAFC 161
Price fixing, meaning of understanding
(appeal from ACCC v Leahy Petroleum Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 1678)
Arnotts Limited v TPC (1990) ATPR para 41-061;
(1990) 97 ALR 555; (1990) 24 FCR 313 [external case link]
Merger
- market definition (different types of biscuits)
ASX Operations Pty Ltd v Pont Data Australia Pty Ltd (No. 1) (1990) 27 FCR 460
Anti-competitive agreements, exclusionary provisions, misuse of market power
Attorney-General v The Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd (1913) 18 CLR 30
Australian Industries Preservation Act 1906 - Price fixing and market allocation - injury to the public
Auskay International Manufacturing & Trade Pty Ltd v Qantas Airways Ltd (2008) ATPR 42-256; [2008] FCA 1458 [external case link]
Alleged cartel - specificity of market
Australian Association of Pathology Practices Incorporated [2004] ACompT 4; (2004) ATPR 41-985 [external case link]
Authorisation - exclusive dealing - third line forcing
Australian Gas Light Company (ACN 052 167 405) v Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (No. 3) [2003] FCA 1525
Mergers - declaration that merger would not SLC - declaration sought after ACCC refused to provide informal clearance
Australian Rugby Union Limited v Hospitality Group Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 823
Market definition
AW Tyree Transformers Pty Ltd and Wilson Transformer Co Pty Ltd (1997) ATPR (Com) 50–247
Authorisation - joint marketing scheme
Re Books [1972] 20 FLR 256
Resale Price Maintenance - Trade Practices Tribunal - Application for exemption from Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1971
Boral Besser Masonry Limited (now Boral Masonry Ltd) v ACCC [2003] HCA 5 (7 February 2003)
Misuse of market power; predatory pricing
BP Australia Ltd v TPC (1986) 12 FCR 118 [external case link]
Resale price maintenance
Broderbund Software Inc v Computermate Products (Australia) Pty Ltd (1992) ATPR 41-155
Market definition
Re British Basic Slag Ltd’s Agreements [1963] 2 All ER 807
Agreement
Buckley v Tutty (1971) 125 CLR 353
Restraint of trade
Castlemaine Tooheys Ltd v Williams & Hodgson Transport Pty Ltd [1986] HCA 72; (1986) 162 CLR 395 (2 December 1986) [External case link]
Exclusive dealing
Dandy Power Equipment Pty Ltd v Mercury Marine Pty Ltd (1982) ATPR 40–315
Substantial lessening of competition
Davids Holdings v Attorney-General (1994) 49 FCR 211
Mergers, Market definition
Dowling v Dalgety Australia Ltd (1992) 34 FCR 109
Anti-competitive agreements; misuse of market power; market definition
E
Eastern Express Pty Ltd v General Newspapers Pty Ltd (1991) 30 FCR 385 [external case link]
Predatory pricing
Emirates v ACCC [2009] FCA 312 [external case link]
Validity of s 155 notice - issue of market definition
F
Fortescue Metals Group Limited; In the Matter of [2010] ACompT 2
Access (overturned in part on appeal to the federal court)
Gallagher v Pioneer Concrete (NSW) Pty Ltd (1993) 113 ALR 159
Anti-competitive agreements
H
The Heating Centre Pty Ltd v TPC (1986) 9 FCR 153 [external case link]
Resale price maintenance
Hughes v Western Australian Cricket Association (Inc) (1986) 19 FCR 10
K
KAM Nominees Pty Ltd v Australian Guarantee Corporation Ltd
(1994) 123 ALR 711 [external case link]
Exclusive dealing
L
L Grollo & Co Pty Ltd v Nu-Statt Decorating Pty Ltd (1978) 34 FLR 81 [external case link]
Mark Lyons Pty Ltd v Bursill Sportsgear Pty Ltd (1987) 74 ALR 581
Exclusive dealing, market definition
Melway Publishing Pty Ltd v Robert Hicks Pty Ltd [2001] HCA 13
Misuse of market power
Monroe Topple & Associates Pty Ltd v The Institute of Chartered Accountants (2002) 122 FCR 110 [external case link]
Likely effect of SLC
Morphett Arms Hotel Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1980) 30 ALR 88 [external case link]
This is the appeal from TPC v Nicholas Enterprises
N
News Ltd v Australian Rugby League Ltd (No 2) (1996) 64 FCR 410 (4 October 1996) (Superleague)
Exclusionary provisions
News Ltd v South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club Ltd [2003] HCA 45
Deals with s 45's prohibition of exclusionary provisions in relation to South Sydney's exclusion from the national rugby competition in 2000.
Nordenfelt v The Maxim Nordenfelt Guns & Ammunition Co Ltd [1894] AC 535
Restraint of trade
NT Power Generation v Power and Water Authority [2004] HCA 48; 219 CLR 90
Misuse of market power; access to services (through s 46)
NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
[1996] FCA 1134; 71 FCR 285
Penalties - agreed penalties - principles
O'Brien Glass Industries Ltd v Cool & Sons Pty Ltd (1983) 77 FLR 441 [external case link]
Market definition
Outboard Marine Pty Ltd v Hecar Investments (No 6) Pty Ltd (1982) ATPR 40–327
Exclusive dealing
P
Pilbara Infrastructure Pty Ltd v Australian Competition Tribunal [2011] FCAFC 58 (4 May 2011) [external case link]
Appeal from Fortescue Metals Group Limited; In the Matter of [2010] ACompT 2
Pont Data Australia Pty Limited v ASX Operations Pty Limited (1990) FCA 30 [external case link]
Misuse of market power, anti-competitive agreements, exclusive dealing, price discrimination
Qantas Airways Ltd [2004] A Comp T 9 [external case link]
QIW Retailers Ltd v Davids Holdings (1993) ATPR 41-226
Mergers; Trade Practices Economics
Re QIW Ltd (1995) 132 ALR 225
Merger, Market definition
Re Queensland Co-Op Milling Association Limited and Defiance Holdings Limited (QCMA) (1976) 8 ALR 481
Mergers; Trade Practices Economics
Queensland Wire Industries v BHP (1989) 167 CLR 177 (High Court)
Misuse of market power - leveraging market power (section 46)
R
R v Associated Northern Collieries (1911) 14 CLR 387
On the issue of establishing collusion
Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd v Stereo FM Pty Ltd (1982) 62 FLR 437 [external case link; Federal Court (Lockhart J)]
Meaning of 'substantial'
Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd v Stereo FM Pty Ltd (1983) 68 FLR 70 [external case link; Full Federal Court]
Meaning of 'substantial'
Rural Press Limited v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2003] HCA 75 (11 December 2003)
Misuse of market power and exclusionary provisions
Seven Network Ltd v News Limited [2007] FCA 1062; [2009] FCAFC 166 (the C7 case)
Anti-competitive agreements; misuse of market power; market definition
Singapore Airlines Ltd v Taprobane Tours WA Pty Ltd (1991) 33 FCR 158 [external case link]
Market definition
Stationers Supply Pty Ltd v Victorian Authorised Newsagents Associated Limited (1993) 44 FCR 35
Purpose or effect of substantially lessening competition (ss 45 and 47)
Stirling Harbour Services Pty Ltd v Bunbury Port Authority [2000] FCA 1381
SLC test
T
Tillmanns Butcheries Pty Ltd v Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union (1979) 27 ALR 367 [external case link]
Secondary boycott - purpose - meaning of 'substantial'
In Re Tooth and Co Limited; In Re Tooheys Limited (1979) ATPR 40–113 (Tribunal)
Market definition
Top Performance Motors Pty Ltd v Ira Berk (Qld) Pty Ltd (1975) 5 ALR 465
Market definition
TPC v Australia Meat Holidngs Pty Ltd (1988) 83 ALR 299
Trade practices economics
TPC v Arnotts (1990) 93 ALR 657 [external case link]
Mergers
TPC v David Jones (Australia) Pty Ltd (1986) 13 FCR 446
Anti-competitive agreements; Price Fixing
TPC v Email Ltd (1980) ATPR 40–172
Anti-competitive agreements; exchange of price lists, circumstantial evidence
TPC v Mobil Oil Australia Ltd (1984) 3 FCR 168 [external case link]
Resale price maintenance
TPC v Nicholas Enterprises (1979) 40 FLR 83
Contract, arrangement or understanding
TPC v Parkfield Operations Pty Ltd (1985) 5 FCR 140 [external case link]
Contract, arrangement or understanding - mutuality
TPC v Penfold Wines Pty Ltd (1992) ATPR 41–163 [external case link]
Resale price maintenance
TPC v Service Station Association Ltd (1993) 44 FCR 206
Anti-competitive agreements; Price Fixing
TPC v Sony (Australia) Pty Ltd
(1990) ATPR 41–031
[external case link]
Resale price maintenance
TPC v TNT Management Pty Ltd (1985) 6 FCR 1 [external case link]
Agreement or understanding - exclusionary provision - SLC - economic evidence
Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd v ACCC [2003] FCAFC 193
Misuse of market power; purpose or effect of SLC
Visy Paper Pty Ltd v ACCC [2003] HCA 59
Sectison 45 and 47 - anti-overlap
Re 7-Eleven Stores (1994) ATPR 41-357
Market definition, public benefits/detriment