Coles and Woolworths sign on to voluntary code of conduct: What suppliers get...
Australia’s two major supermarket chains have both agreed to sign a voluntary code of conduct to guide their relationships with suppliers. The code, hammered out over the weekend with the Australian...
View ArticleWhy Joe Hockey should not have sacked me
As we face an ageing tsunami, Treasurer Joe Hockey has sacked the Advisory Panel on Positive Ageing (and me as its chairman), declaring it to be irrelevant without stating why this is so. Shortly...
View ArticleSenate inquiry into Australia Post underway amid bully claims
A licensed post office in Wollongong was the centre of an attempted security audit today after its licensee spoke out about Australia Post at a Senate estimates hearing yesterday. “I have absolutely no...
View ArticleMitsubishi Electric Australia in court for resale price maintenance
The competition watchdog has launched proceedings against Mitsubishi Electric Australia for allegedly engaging in resale price maintenance. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleges on...
View ArticleKit Willow “sacked” from label, legal action imminent
Rumours have been flying since late last week about the circumstances of Kit Willow Podgornik’s departure from her fashion label, with the designer telling media she was sacked. The designer is said to...
View ArticleElectronics retailers found to be breaching consumer law, “85% of sales staff...
An investigation by consumer group Choice has revealed 85% of sales staff at major electronics retailers were uncompliant with aspects of Australian Consumer Law. Two Choice staff visited 80 Harvey...
View ArticleBest tips to save legal costs for small businesses
One of the harsh realities of business is that businesses sometimes get sued by a client or customer. Faulty products, negligent advice, or failure to fulfil the terms of a contract can all give rise...
View ArticleAustralian Power and Gas fined $1.1 million for dodgy door-knocking
The Federal Court has ordered by consent that Australian Power and Gas pay a fine of $1.1 million for illegal door-to-door sales practices. The penalty comes after action earlier this year by the...
View ArticlePlain packaging one year on: Convenience stores cry foul as their...
More than a third (36%) of convenience store turnover consists of tobacco sales. So it’s no wonder the industry took a keen interest in the plain packaging reforms that required all cigarettes be sold...
View ArticleFake debt collector letters see Excite Mobile cop $450,000 fine for...
Former South Australian-based mobile phone company Excite Mobile has been penalised more than $450,000 for constructing a fake debt collector to pressure customers for payment. The company was fined a...
View ArticleHeston Blumenthal’s lawyers dig knife into local Melbourne café in name stoush
A suburban Melbourne Café co-owner didn’t know what to make of an email from Heston Blumenthal’s Sydney-based lawyers when they demanded her business change its name within seven days. The Oakleigh...
View ArticleACCC releases guidelines for online reviews, but knows it’s “difficult to...
Regulators think it’s “extraordinarily difficult” to police, but ‘astroturfing’, the practice of giving an enterprise good reviews online while sledging the competition, is in the gun. Sparked by...
View ArticleTelemarketing director and manager cop $100,000 in fines for “deceit” of five...
A director and sales manager of a telemarketing company that sold ink cartridges have copped $100,000 in fines for knowingly breaking Australian Consumer Law. Tuan Nguyen, the sole director of Artorios...
View ArticleFlight Centre loses ACCC case with CEOs emails scrutinised
Flight Centre chief Graham Turner remains defiant after his company lost a case brought against it by the ACCC on Friday. The Brisbane Federal Court found Flight Centre guilty of six counts of...
View ArticleHarvey Norman franchisees fined $116,000 for misleading consumers
Retail giant Harvey Norman’s franchises in Victoria and Tasmania have been fined a total of $116,000 for misleading customers on their consumer rights. The fines come after consumer group CHOICE...
View ArticleCompetition policy review terms of reference: Small business to be given...
The Coalition’s review of competition policy is set to focus on boosting productivity and tightening regulations to crack down on the misuse of market power, pleasing the small business community. In...
View ArticleColgate, Cussons and Woolworths in hot water related to alleged laundry...
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has lodged civil proceedings against three of Australia’s biggest companies in relation to an alleged cartel regarding the price and supply of laundry...
View ArticleFire Services Levy refund scam, warning to consumers
Victorians are being urged to be wary of a telephone scam where callers claim the property owner is owed a refund for Fire Services Levy overpayments. Telephone scams have become prominent again in the...
View ArticleDimmeys cops $3 million fine, business to be placed in administration
Iconic Victorian discount retailer Dimmeys is close to administration, as yesterday it copped a $3 million penalty for breaching product safety laws. Dimmeys and distribution company Starite...
View ArticleScoopon hit with $1 million fine for misleading businesses and consumers
Online group buying site Scoopon has been hit with a $1 million penalty for making false and misleading representations to businesses and consumers. The Federal Court ruled Scoopon had contravened...
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