Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v NSW Ports Operations Hold Co Pty Ltd

• Jurisdiction: Australia Federal only
• Court: Federal Court
• Judgment Date: 29 June 2021
• Neutral Citation: [2021] FCA 720
• Date: 29 June 2021

Federal Court of Australia

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v NSW Ports Operations Hold Co Pty Ltd [2021] FCA 720

File number:	NSD 2289 of 2018
Judgment of:	JAGOT J
Date of judgment:	29 June 2021
Catchwords:	COMPETITION – privatisation of Port Botany and Port Kembla – port commitment deeds – where provisions of deeds require the State to compensate port operators if container volumes above specified threshold divert to possible container terminal at the Port of Newcastle – alleged contravention of s 45 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) – whether hypothetical container terminal at Port of Newcastle would operate in same market as Port Botany or Port Kembla – relevant market existing monopoly market for container terminal services in New South Wales – whether compensation provisions had purpose, effect or likely effect of substantially lessening competition – no likely anti-competitive effect of compensation provisions – where provision of port commitment deed relating to privatisation of the Port of Newcastle required port operator to reimburse the State for compensation paid under Port Botany or Port Kembla deeds – whether reimbursement provisions had purpose, effect or likely effect of substantially lessening competition – no likely anti-competitive effect of reimbursement provisions. ; STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – Crown immunity – whether s 45 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) applies to State making and giving effect to port commitment deeds – whether State entering or giving effect to compensation provisions was “carrying on business”– privatisation of ports giving effect to government policy – Crown immunity – whether s 45 applied to first to third respondents making or giving effect to port commitment deeds – derivative Crown immunity – whether application of s 45 to first to third respondents would adversely affect proprietary right or interest of the Crown – where Treasurer had statutory rights to enter privatisation transactions – where legislative intention that statutory rights allow acts necessary or convenient to enter transactions – where compensation provisions necessary or convenient to effect privatisation transactions – s 45 inapplicable by operation of derivative Crown immunity.
Legislation:	Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) ss 2, 2A, 2B, 4, 4E, 4F, 4G, 4L, 45, 51 Competition Policy Reform Act 1995 (Cth) Competition Policy Reform (New South Wales) Act 1995 (NSW) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) ss 1.3, 1.4, 4.22, 5.12, 5.14, 5.16, 5.19, 5.23, 5.24, 5.27 Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal Act 1992 (NSW) s 4 Ports and Maritime Administration Act 1995 (NSW) ss 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10A, 10B, 12, 13, 16, 17, 21, 47, 61, 62, 67, 77, 78, 80, 81 Ports Assets (Authorised Transactions) Act 2012 (NSW) ss 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 20, 21, 25, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 State Owned Corporations Act 1989 (NSW) ss 3, 20C, 20E, 20F, 20H, 20I, 20N, 20O, 20P, 20Q, 20R, 20S, 20X, 20Y, Sch 5
Cases cited:	Air New Zealand Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2017] HCA 21; (2017) 262 CLR 207 ASX Operations Pty Ltd v Pont Data Australia Pty Ltd (No 1) [1990] FCA 710; (1990) 27 FCR 460 Australia Meat Holdings Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission [1989] ATPR 50,082 Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd [1973] HCA 36; (1973) 129 CLR 99 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited [2015] FCAFC 103; (2015) 236 FCR 78 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Australian Competition Tribunal [2017] FCAFC 150; (2017) 254 FCR 341 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd [2006] FCAFC 128; (2006) 153 FCR 574 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Baxter Healthcare Pty Limited [2007] HCA 38; (2007) 232 CLR 1 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd [2008] FCAFC 141; (2008) 170 FCR 16 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Cement Australia Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 909; (2013) 310 ALR 165 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Flight Centre Travel Group Limited [2016] HCA 49; (2016) 261 CLR 203 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Liquorland (Australia) Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 826 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Pacific National Pty Limited [2020] FCAFC 77; (2020) 277 FCR 49 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Pacific National Pty Limited (No 2) [2019] FCA 669 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Yazaki Corporation [2018] FCAFC 73; (2018) 262 FCR 243 Australian Gas Light Company v Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (No 3) [2003] FCA 1525; (2003) 137 FCR 317 Bass v Permanent Trustee Co Ltd [1999] HCA 9; (1999) 198 CLR 334 Boral Besser Masonry Limited (now Boral Masonry Ltd) v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2003] HCA 5; (2003) 215 CLR 374 Bradken Consolidated Ltd v The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Ltd [1979] HCA 15; (1979) 145 CLR 107 Bropho v Western Australia [1990] HCA 24; (1990) 171 CLR 1 Carlton & United Breweries (NSW) Pty Ltd v Bond Brewing New South Wales Ltd [1987] FCA 640; (1987) 16 FCR 351 Carr v Western Australia [2007] HCA 47; (2007) 232 CLR 138 Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union v Mammoet Australia Pty Ltd [2013] HCA 36; (2013) 248 CLR 619 Cool & Sons Pty. Limited v. O’Brien Glass Industries Limited [1981] FCA 99; (1981) 35 ALR 445 Dandy Power Equipment Pty Ltd v Mercury Marine Pty Ltd [1982] FCA 193; (1982) 44 ALR 173 Davids Holdings Pty Ltd v Attorney-General (Cth) (1994) 49 FCR 211 Dowling v Dalgety Australia Ltd (1992) 34 FCR 109 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd [2014] HCA 7; (2014) 251 CLR 640 Hannes v Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) (No 2) [2006] NSWCCA 373; (2006) 165 A Crim R 151 Hecar Investments No. 6 Pty. Limited v. Outboard Marine Australia Pty. Limited [1982] FCA 114; (1982) 41 ALR 697 Hospital Products Ltd v United States Surgical Corporation [1984] HCA 64; (1984) 156 CLR 41 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 JS McMillan Pty Ltd v Commonwealth [1997] FCA 619; (1997) 77 FCR 337 Lewis v Australian Capital Territory [2020] HCA 26; (2020) 381 ALR 375 McGraw-Hinds (Aust) Pty Ltd v Smith [1979] HCA 19; (1979) 144 CLR 633 Monroe Topple & Associates Pty Ltd v Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia [2002] FCAFC 197; (2002) 122 FCR Murphy v State of Victoria [2014] VSCA 238; (2014) 45 VR 119 News Limited v South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club Limited [2003] HCA 45; (2003) 215 CLR NT Power Generation v Power & Water Authority [2002] FCAFC 302; (2002) 122 FCR 399 NT Power Generation Pty Ltd v Power and Water Authority [2004] HCA 48; (2004) 219 CLR 90 Ogden Industries Pty Ltd v Lucas [1967] HCA 30; (1967) 116 CLR 537 Outboard Marine Australia Pty Ltd v Hecar Investments No 6 Pty Ltd [1982] FCA 285; (1982) 44 ALR 667 Queensland Wire Industries Pty Ltd v Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd [1989] HCA 6; (1989) 167 CLR 177 Radio 2UE Pty Ltd v Stereo FM Pty Ltd [1982] FCA 223; (1982) 44 ALR 557 Re Howard Smith Industries Pty Ltd and Adelaide Steamship Industries Pty Ltd (1977) 15 ALR 645 Re Queensland Co‑operative Milling Association Ltd; Re Defiance Holdings Ltd (1976) 8 ALR 481 Re Residential...