Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v BlueScope Steel Limited (No 5)

• Jurisdiction: Australia Federal only
• Court: Federal Court
• Judgment Date: 09 December 2022
• Neutral Citation: [2022] FCA 1475
• Date: 09 December 2022

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v BlueScope Steel Limited (No 5) [2022] FCA 1475

File number:	VID 932 of 2019
Judgment of:	O'BRYAN J
Date of judgment:	9 December 2022
Catchwords:	COMPETITION – alleged attempts to induce certain suppliers of flat steel products to contravene the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) (Act) by arriving at an understanding containing cartel provisions – cartel provisions being provisions to control or maintain the price of flat steel products supplied in Australia – whether putative counterparties to the understandings were or were likely to be in competition with each other at the relevant time – market definition – consideration of product and functional dimensions of the markets for the supply of flat steel products – whether overseas steel mills compete with domestic producer – whether respondents intended to induce understandings containing cartel provisions – whether an attempt to induce an understanding requires one party to seek a commitment from the other – means by which an understanding may be reached ; STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – meaning of “attempted to induce” a contravention in s 76(1)(d) of the Act – meaning of “understanding” in Pt IV of the Act – meaning of “fixing, controlling or maintaining” prices in Pt IV of the Act – whether s 84(1) of the Act (attribution of state of mind) is applicable to an attempt to induce a contravention within s 76(1)(d) of the Act
Legislation:	Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) ss 2, 4(1), 4F, 44ZZRB, 44ZZRC, 44ZZRD, 44ZZRJ, 44ZZRK, 48, 76, 84, 86E, 96, 97 Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) Sch 1 (Commonwealth Criminal Code) s 11.1 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 81, 135, 136, 140 Trade Practices Amendment (Cartel Conduct and Other Measures) Act 2009 (Cth) Trade Practices Revision Act 1986 (Cth) Explanatory Memorandum, Trade Practices Amendment (Cartel Conduct and Other Measures) Bill 2008 (Cth) Explanatory Memorandum, Trade Practices Revision Bill 1986 (Cth)
Cases cited:	Air New Zealand v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2017) 262 CLR 207 Apco Service Stations Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2005) 159 FCR 452 ASX Operations Pty Ltd v Pont Data Australia Pty Ltd (No 1) (1990) 27 FCR 460 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Air New Zealand Ltd [2014] FCA 1157; 319 ALR 388 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Amcor Printing Papers Group Ltd [2000] FCA 17; 169 ALR 344 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Australian Egg Corporation Ltd (2017) 254 FCR 311 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd (2003) 129 FCR 339 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v BlueScope Steel Ltd (No 3) [2021] FCA 1147 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Cascade Coal Pty Ltd [2019] FCAFC 154; 374 ALR 90 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v CC (NSW) Pty Ltd (No 8) (1999) 92 FCR 375 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Colgate-Palmolive Pty Ltd (No 4) [2017] FCA 1590; 353 ALR 460 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Colgate-Palmolive Pty Ltd [2019] FCAFC 83 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (2016) 261 CLR 203 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v J McPhee & Son (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 3) [1998] FCA 200 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Leahy Petroleum Pty Ltd (2007) 160 FCR 321 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Leahy Petroleum Pty Ltd (2004) 141 FCR 183 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Metcash Trading Ltd (2011) 198 FCR 297 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Metcash Trading Ltd [2011] FCA 967; 282 ALR 464 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Olex Australia Pty Ltd [2017] FCA 222 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Pacific National Pty Ltd (2020) 277 FCR 49 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v PT Garuda Indonesia Ltd (2016) 244 FCR 190 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v SIP Australia Pty Ltd [2002] FCA 824; ATPR 41-877 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Yazaki Corporation (No 2) [2015] FCA 1304; 332 ALR 396 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Hellicar (2012) 247 CLR 345 Belhaven and Stenton Peerage (1875) 1 App Cas 278 Bilta (UK) Ltd (in liq) v Nazir [2016] AC 1 Boral Besser Masonry Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2003) 215 CLR 374 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Chamberlain v The Queen (No 2) (1984) 153 CLR 521 Chong v CC Containers Pty Ltd (2015) 49 VR 402 Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) v Lutovi Investments Pty Ltd (1978) 140 CLR 434 Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Kojic (2016) 249 FCR 421 Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing & Allied Services Union of Australia v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2007) 162 FCR 466 Country Care Group Pty Ltd v Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) (2020) 275 FCR 342 Crabtree-Vickers Pty Ltd v Australian Direct Mail Advertising & Addressing Co Pty Ltd (1975) 133 CLR 72 Edwards v The Queen (1993) 178 CLR 193 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Cooper Brookes (Wollongong) Pty Ltd (1979) 41 FLR 277 Freeman & Lockyer v Buckhurst Park Properties (Mangal) Ltd [1964] 2 QB 480 Giorgianni v The Queen (1985) 156 CLR 473 Heating Centre Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1986) 9 FCR 153 Holliday v The Queen (2016) 12 ACTLR 16 Inegbedion v The Queen [2013] NSWCCA 291 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Meridian Global Funds Management Asia Ltd v Securities Commission [1995] 2 AC 500 Morphett Arms Hotel Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1980) 30 ALR 88 Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd [1992] HCA 66; 110 ALR 449 News Ltd v South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club Ltd (2003) 215 CLR 563 NMFM Property Pty Ltd v Citibank Ltd (No 10) (2000) 107 FCR 270 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355 Queensland Wire Industries Pty Ltd v Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd (1989) 167 CLR 177 R v Associated Northern Collieries (1911) 14 CLR 387 Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd v Stereo FM Pty Ltd (1982) 62 FLR 437 Re British Basic Slag Ltd’s Agreements [1963] 1 WLR 727 Re Queensland Co-operative Milling Association Ltd (1976) 8 ALR 481 RPS v The Queen (2000) 199 CLR 620 Rural Press Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2003) 216 CLR 53 Rural Press Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2002) 118 FCR 236 Seven Network Ltd v News Ltd (2009) 182 FCR 160 Singapore Airlines Ltd v Taprobane Tours WA Pty Ltd (1991) 33 FCR 158 Top Performance Motors Pty Ltd v Ira Berk (Qld) Pty Ltd (1975) 24 FLR 286 Trade Practices Commission v Email Ltd (1980) 31 ALR 53 Trade Practices Commission v Nicholas Enterprises Pty Ltd (No 2) (1979) 40 FLR 83 Trade Practices Commission v Parkfield Operations Pty Ltd (1985) 7 FCR 534 Trade Practices Commission v Parkfield Operations Pty Ltd (1985) 5 FCR 140 Trade...