Under s 155 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, the ACCC can issue a notice to a person requiring them to provide information and answer questions. Failure to comply, or knowingly furnishing false or misleading information in response, is a criminal offence.
Natural Food Vending Pty Ltd was served with one such notice and failed to comply. Davies was its sole director and was convicted of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring that failure.
The Act provides for a maximum fine of 20 penalty units ($2200) or up to 12 months imprisonment. Reeves J considered that the particular offending in this case did not warrant a sentence of imprisonment. His Honour further considered that a fine, given Davies’ impecuniosity, would effectively lead to his imprisonment on his default. Accordingly, Reeves J has now sentenced Davies to 200 hours community service provided he does not commit another offence during the service period.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Davies (No 2) [2015] FCA 1290