Australia's consumer protection agencies are stepping up their combined assault on false billing practices.
"A coordinated and cooperative approach by Commonwealth, State and Territory fair trading agencies will make certain there are no gaps within the jurisdictions and relevant legislation", ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today. "Our combined forces will ensure we have a wider net to catch illegal conduct.
"This is part of a broader strategy among the jurisdictions involving coordinated enforcement action and continuing education to raise business's awareness of these insidious practices which may cost businesses millions of dollars".
All Commonwealth, State and Territory fair trading agencies have been exchanging information and assisting one another to effectively combat false billing practices.
"Let this be a warning to any company which thinks that false billing might be an easy way to make a quick buck", Mr Samuel said. "There are now nine government agencies together watching and waiting to catch the next false biller in Australia".
In Melbourne on Tuesday the Federal Court declared that an internet domain supplier Domain Names Australia Pty Ltd and its director Mr Chesley Paul Rafferty had breached the Trade Practices Act 1974, and restrained them from engaging in similar conduct for three years. The ACCC had alleged that Domain Names Australia Pty Ltd had made false or misleading representations to businesses which held a registered internet domain name by sending them notices inviting them to register a new internet domain name which was substantially similar to the business’s existing domain name.
Media Contacts:
- ACCC - Ms Lin Enright, Director, Public Relations, (02) 6243 1108 or 0414 613 520
- NSW - Mr Christian Fanker, (02) 9338 8997 or 0411 070 025
- Victoria– Ms Janet Miller, (03) 9627 6129
- Queensland – Mr David Smith, (07) 3225 1005 or 0409 496 534
- South Australia – Ms Carolyn Warman, (08) 8204 9507
- Western Australia – Mr Mike Winchester, (08) 9282 0663
- Tasmania – Mr Roy Ormerod, (03) 6233 4555 or Mr Phil Marriott, (03) 6233 4500
- ACT – Mr Greg Bayliss, (02) 6207 7492
- Northern Territory - Mr Gary Clements, (08) 8982 1772