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)

• 7 Jul 2026: Zulic v CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd (No 4) [2026] FCA 878
  PRIVILEGE – disputed notice to produce – where legal professional privilege claimed over solicitors’ invoices – where solicitor on the record has reviewed invoices and considers that they disclose privileged communications and narratives which would allow the content of privileged communications to be inferred – where evidence sufficient to…
  Judge: JACKMAN J
• 15 Jun 2026: Australian Income Solutions Pty Ltd v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2026] FCA 886
  CORPORATIONS – application to set aside statutory demands – statutory demands founded on pecuniary penalty orders made in related proceeding – interlocutory application in related proceeding to set aside earlier orders – whether proceedings should be heard concurrently – evidence in each proceeding to stand as evidence in the other – case…
  Judge: LEE J
• 8 Jul 2026: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v JustAnswer LLC [2026] FCA 871
  CONSUMER LAW – admitted contraventions of Australian Consumer Law – orders as to relief jointly proposed by parties – appropriateness of declaratory relief – declaratory relief declined – factors bearing upon setting of penalty – penalty imposed – appropriateness of injunction and orders for redress, non-punitive relief and costs – orders made –…
  Judge: SNADEN J
• 8 Jul 2026: Palmer v Shipton [2026] FCAFC 90
  CORPORATIONS – tort of misfeasance in public office – pleadings – practice and procedure – whether elements of the cause of action properly pleaded and particularised – refusal of leave to replead – summary dismissal of proceedings – adequacy of affidavit justifying summary dismissal – leave to appeal granted – appeal dismissed in each case
  Judge: BEACH, ABRAHAM AND MCDONALD JJ
• 6 Jul 2026: Wijeyekoon by her litigation guardian Haslum v Westpac Banking Corporation [2026] FCA 875
  PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application for an injunction before the start of a proceeding to prevent the prospective respondents from discharging a loan as part of the settlement of a sale of a property, which sale gave effect to orders of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) – no serious issue to be tried identified –…
  Judge: GOODMAN J
• 6 Jul 2026: Australian Communications and Media Authority v Jones (No 8) [2026] FCA 861
  CORPORATIONS – pecuniary penalties and other orders – determination of appropriate penalty – where third respondent aided and abetted the contraventions of s 15(2A) of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth) by each of the first, second and fourth respondents – where third respondent admitted ancillary liability – where agreed penalty was…
  Judge: RANGIAH J
• 6 Jul 2026: Australian Communications and Media Authority v Jones (No 7) [2026] FCA 860
  CORPORATIONS – pecuniary penalties and other orders – determination of appropriate penalty – where first and fourth respondents contravened s 15(2A) of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth) – whether proposed penalties appropriate to achieve general and specific deterrence – consideration of factors informing assessment of penalty – penalty…
  Judge: RANGIAH J
• 3 Jul 2026: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Beacon Products Pty Limited (in liq) (No 2) [2026] FCA 855
  CORPORATIONS – misleading or deceptive conduct – unconscionability – proceeding commenced by regulator – where respondents operated businesses selling cleaning products and printer cartridges and inks for commercial and industrial use (Businesses) – whether particular sales systems and techniques contravened s 18, s 21 and s 29(1)(d) and s…
  Judge: HALLEY J
• 29 Jun 2026: True EV Distribution Pty Ltd v Shenzhen Xiaopeng Motors Supply Chain Management Co Ltd (No 2) [2026] FCA 866
  PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application for dismissal of proceedings due to non-payment of security for costs – where security for costs paid 26 days late, 1 business day before this application listed for hearing – application dismissed COSTS – appropriate order for costs of interlocutory proceeding – where late payment by applicants made…
  Judge: JACKMAN J
• 3 Jul 2026: Australian Securities and Investments Commission v ASX Limited (No 2) [2026] FCA 862
  CORPORATIONS – admission by ASX Limited of misleading and deceptive conduct in contravention of s 12DA of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act 2001 (Cth) (ASIC Act) – admission by ASX of false and misleading representation in contravention of subs 12DB(1)(a) and (e) of the ASIC Act – whether the agreed declarations of…
  Judge: MARKOVIC J

• Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)