Competition & Consumer Protection

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will conduct a one-year inquiry into supermarket pricing and competition amid concerns by consumers.

Care A2 Plus must hand over $675,000 in security for costs to pursue a $358 million cross-claim in a lawsuit by former business partner Gensco, after a judge found the infant formula company’s claims were a “counterattack”, and not merely defensive. 

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has handed Queensland investment firm Penta Capital a $53,280 fine for allegedly making false statements on its website, including that it managed $6.9 billion on behalf of retail, wholesale and institutional clients.

Apple has failed to prevent a funder from accessing data that will allow it to estimate potential damages in a class action it’s bankrolling over allegedly anti-competitive app store restrictions.

The Australian Law Reform Commission has recommended extensive reforms to the “confusing maze” that is the Corporations Act, including the creation of a standalone financial services law.

The federal government has hit back at a class action over an outbreak of white spot disease in South-East Queensland that decimated the commercial prawn industry, pointing the finger at several importers and saying farmers failed to mitigate their own losses.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has hit teleco Medion Australia with a $259,440 penalty for allegedly failing to verify customer identity, claiming it caused several people to fall victim to SIM-swap scams. 

A judge has handed a partial win to homewares brand Bed Bath N’ Table, finding rival House misled consumers by opening a sub-brand called House Bed & Bath but rejecting the retailer’s trade mark infringement claims.

Property developer Green Capital and Lake Macquarie City council are facing a class action seeking compensation for homeowners in a Newcastle suburb over properties that are allegedly sinking into the ground and have been “injuriously affected in value”. 

The High Court has been asked to hear another case dealing with how reduction in value damages should be calculated under the Australian Consumer Law, with Ford arguing its appeal should be heard alongside two appeals in a class action against Toyota which the High Court has already agreed to take up.