Competition & Consumer Protection

A Mitre 10 franchisee’s case alleging Bunnings engaged in anti-competitive conduct by launching a $36 million store in regional Queensland will have significance for other independent hardware retailers that have closed down, a court has heard.

A shipping and logistics company that services remote communities in the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland has amended its contracts with remote customers, after the ACCC expressed concerns about anti-competitive clauses. 

Defunct forex broker Union Standard and its former agents have been hit with a combined $300.2 million penalty for “egregious” contraventions, including deliberately pushing risky derivative contracts onto inexperienced investors.

Oral care company Hismile has paid $138,600 in penalties after the consumer watchdog issued it with seven infringement notices over alleged false and misleading social media advertisements.

A judge has rejected an application by online trading platform IG Markets to amend a cross-claim against a trader who earned $5.5 million in 30 minutes through a 'test market'.

Venture capital firm EVP has won court approval to pursue claims against bankrupt Strongroom AI founder and former director Christopher Durre.

A judge has found that online training provider RSA Express, which reaped $8 million from consumers who paid for courses they did not complete, made misleading representations that customers would only pay for courses after they passed. 

JB Hi-Fi will refund customers over $250,000 after the consumer watchdog raised concerns the electronics retailer's 'was/now' pricing campaign was misleading. 

Two former employees of financial services firm Monarch Advisory have lost their appeal of a $270,000 damages award after they were found to have breached a non-compete agreement.

An appeals court has knocked back a constitutional challenge by the developers of a $38 million residential development seeking to set aside an adjudication determination on the basis that the Victorian SOP Act conflicts with the Australian Consumer Law.