22 December 1996
Legal action by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commisison has prevented tourist cruise operators from fixing prices in the Port Stephens district. On Friday 20 December 1996, the Federal Court imposed injunctions restraining Moonshadow Charters P/L and its directors P & D Annables, and Bestcol P/L and its directors W & S Hamilton, from the making of, or in the aiding or abetting of, arrangements to fix prices of 'dolphin watch' cruises.
The ACCC had alleged that during the October 1996 school holidays, the respondents attempted to arrange a price fix on dolphin watch cruises provided by most tourist operators in the Port Stephens district. The price fix was supposed to involve operators providing cruises, on a roster basis, and at a uniform price per head.
The respondents have agreed to consent to the injunctions which restrain them from engaging in this or any other similar conduct that would amount to breaches of the price fixing provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974. The court was not asked to make any findings but also ordered that the respondents pay ACCC's legal costs of the proceedings of $6000 and ACCC's investigative costs of $2,200, as agreed between the ACCC and the respondents.
The ACCC had alleged that during the October 1996 school holidays, the respondents attempted to arrange a price fix on dolphin watch cruises provided by most tourist operators in the Port Stephens district. The price fix was supposed to involve operators providing cruises, on a roster basis, and at a uniform price per head.
The respondents have agreed to consent to the injunctions which restrain them from engaging in this or any other similar conduct that would amount to breaches of the price fixing provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974. The court was not asked to make any findings but also ordered that the respondents pay ACCC's legal costs of the proceedings of $6000 and ACCC's investigative costs of $2,200, as agreed between the ACCC and the respondents.
Release number:
MR 179/96
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