This Sub-area includes:

• consumer-related matters such as:
  • misleading and deceptive conduct
  • unconscionable conduct
  • unfair commercial practices
  • product liability matters
  • false advertising
• Australian Consumer Law actions by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The NPA practice note sets out the arrangements for the management of Commercial and Corporations proceedings in this Sub-area:

Other practice notes and Court developed guides which may be relevant to this Sub-area include:

Filing fees for commencing a proceeding in this Sub-area may apply. Information about Court fees, including the fees payable and circumstances where an exemption or deferral can be given is available in Forms, Fees & Costs or from the Registry.

A person may commence a proceeding in this Sub-area by filing:

Parties should consider whether it is necessary to file a Genuine steps statement (Form 16) in certain proceedings in this NPA - see Rule 8.02 of the Rules and the Civil Dispute Resolution Act 2011 (Cth) (including sections 6, 7 and 16).

• Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth)
• Civil Aviation (Carriers Liability) Act 1959 (Cth)
• National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (Cth)
• National Consumer Credit Protection (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2009 (Cth)
• National Consumer Credit Protection (Fees) Act 2009 (Cth)
• Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)

• 12 Jun 2026: Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Noumi Limited (No 6) [2026] FCA 785
  EVIDENCE – admissibility – whether data as at August 2022 relevant to information available in 2019 and 2022 – where data may affect assessment of knowledge of inventory in 2019 and 2020 – whether representations were prepared in contemplation of present proceedings – where representations were prepared in the usual process of keeping accounting…
  Judge: JACKMAN J
• 19 Jun 2026: Australian Securities and Investments Commission v H C F Life Insurance Company Pty Limited [2026] FCAFC 81
  INSURANCE – appeal from liability decision and penalty decision of the primary judge – where respondent a life insurer that offers products which contain exclusions in respect of pre-existing conditions – where respondent adopted a definition of pre-existing condition that excludes cover where a medical practitioner is of the opinion that signs or …
  Judge: DERRINGTON, HALLEY AND MCEVOY JJ
• 17 Jun 2026: Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Bekier (Penalty Judgment) [2026] FCA 756
  CORPORATIONS – civil penalty proceedings against eleven members of the executive team and board of Star Entertainment Group Limited (Star) in respect of dealings with junkets and principal banker – where directors and officers of Star contravened s 180(1) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) CORPORATIONS – where Australian Securities and Investments …
  Judge: LEE J
• 16 Jun 2026: Australian Securities and Investments Commission v BSF Solutions Pty Ltd (Costs) [2026] FCA 686
  COSTS – whether there should be a separation of liability for costs between respondents – where contraventions the subject of the proceedings were a consequence of joint operations of all respondents – where contraventions were interrelated – where respondents did not conduct separate and distinct defences – held respondents should be jointly and…
  Judge: JACKMAN J
• 11 Jun 2026: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v RSA Express Pty Ltd [2026] FCA 722
  CONSUMER LAW – Misleading or deceptive conduct – Application by regulator for declaration of contravention of sections 18, 29 and 34 of the Australian Consumer Law – where respondent provided online courses for Responsible Service of Alcohol and White Card certification – where respondent represented to consumers that payment would only be…
  Judge: DERRINGTON J
• 26 May 2026: Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre v Castra Licensee Pty Ltd [2026] FCA 709
  CORPORATIONS – contravention of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth) (Act) – where the respondent failed to give the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre a compliance report in accordance with s 47(2) of the Act CORPORATIONS – pecuniary penalties – where proposed…
  Judge: LEE J
• 3 Jun 2026: Southernwood v Brambles Limited (No 4) [2026] FCA 691
  REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDINGS – common issues – issues of commonality – Merck orders – where there is a dispute relating to the answers to common questions following reasons for judgment – orders under section 33ZB of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) COSTS – representative proceedings – discretion to award costs – where applicant has…
  Judge: MURPHY J
• 26 May 2026: Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre v Princeton Securities (NSW) Pty Ltd [2026] FCA 687
  CORPORATIONS – contravention of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth) (Act) – where the respondent failed to give the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre a compliance report in accordance with s 47(2) of the Act CORPORATIONS – pecuniary penalties – where the parties…
  Judge: LEE J
• 18 May 2026: Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Walker Stores Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) [2026] FCA 665
  CORPORATIONS — consumer credit — credit contracts — cap on the cost of credit by way of the annual cost rate (ACR) — contravention of s 24(1) and s 32A of the National Credit Code — observations on the calculation of the ACR — respondent markups — meaning of “amount of credit” — meaning of “cost of credit” — meaning of “credit fees or charges” —…
  Judge: BEACH J
• 28 May 2026: TJ & P Pty Ltd as trustee for the Post Family Trust v Agrinova Pty Ltd [2026] FCAFC 77
  ESTOPPEL – equity – equitable estoppel alleged to have arisen from written representations amounting to a promise – promise later withdrawn – whether there was reliance on the promise – whether the remedy should be based on the value of the promise or the detriment suffered from reliance on the promise assessed with reference to expenditure…
  Judge: STEWART, HALLEY AND STELLIOS JJ

• Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)