Inside Track: Competition & Consumer Law - In the media, and Cases

• Published date: 25 November 2021
• Law Firm: Holding Redlich

In the media

New anti-scalping laws crack down on inflated bundle deals
Victorian fans attending major sports and entertainment events will be further protected from scalpers under new legislation. The new measure will guard against unscrupulous individuals and companies buying tickets and then obscuring inflated resale prices for the seats in packages involving hospitality, experiences or merchandise (16 November 2021). More...

ASIC files contempt application against Mayfair 101 Director James Mawhinney
ASIC has filed a contempt application in the Federal Court against James Mawhinney, the director of the Mayfair 101 group of businesses. On 23 March 2021, the Federal Court ruled that companies in the Mayfair 101 Group, of which Mr Mawhinney was a director, made false, misleading, or deceptive representations in ads for its debenture products (16 November 2021). More...

Alkaloids of Australia Pty Ltd pleads guilty to criminal cartel charges
Alkaloids of Australia Pty Ltd has pleaded guilty to three charges of criminal cartel conduct and has admitted a further seven offences. The conduct involved price fixing, bid rigging and market allocation arrangements with overseas pharmaceutical ingredient suppliers. This follows and earlier guilty plea by Alkaloids' former export manager (16 November 2021). More...

High Court denies Volkswagen leave to appeal $125 million penalty
The High Court has dismissed Volkswagen AG's application for special leave to appeal the $125 million penalty ordered by the Federal Court in December 2019 for making false representations about compliance with Australia's diesel emissions standards. The High Court's decision means the record $125 million penalty imposed by the Federal Court stands (12 November 2021). More...

ACCC probes flower industry over claims customers are being scammed into buying from 'local' florists
A whistleblower at one of Australia's largest online flower retailers said she was trained to deliberately mislead customers. ACCC Chairman Rod Sims says he is 'extremely concerned' about possible widespread deception in the flower industry and the approach from Roses Only appeared to give the false impression the businesses were local shops (13 November 2021). More...

Audio company Please Hold removes alleged unfair contract terms for small business customers
UK based audio branding company Please Hold (UK) Limited (PHMG) has committed to amend its contract terms after an ACCC investigation into allegations that PHMG's standard form contract contained unfair contract terms, and limited consumer guarantee rights (11 November 2021). More...

Enforcing underquoting laws...