The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission* has filed proceedings in the Federal Court in Melbourne against a transport company and five of its managers, alleging an attempted price-fix.
The ACCC has alleged that J McPhee & Son (Australia) Pty Ltd had earlier this year attempted to reach an agreement with a competitor, Multigroup Distribution Services Pty Ltd, to provide a tender to a McPhee client which was to be at or above the rates which McPhee were seeking to charge the client. A director of McPhee and three of the company's senior managers are alleged to have been involved in the attempt.
The Commission has also alleged that in November 1994, a manager of McPhee in Gippsland, Victoria, approached a manager of Multigroup and reached an agreement with him that a quotation to be submitted to a McPhee client by Multigroup would be at rates in excess of those being charged by McPhee.
The matter has been listed for directions on February 20 1996.
Release # MR 024/95
Issued: 20th December 1995
*The ACCC was formed on 6 November 1995 following the merger of the Trade Practices Commission and the Prices Surveillance Authority.
