Section 45AG — Competition and Consumer Act 2010: Giving effect to a cartel provision

Offence (1) A person commits an offence if: (a) a contract, arrangement or understanding contains a cartel provision; and (b) the person gives effect to the cartel provision. (2) The fault element for paragraph (1)(a) is knowledge or belief. Penalty (3) An offence against subsection (1) committed by a body corporate is punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding the greater of the following: (a) $100,000,000; (b) if the court can determine the total value of the benefits that: (i) have been obtained by one or more persons; and (ii) are reasonably attributable to the commission of the offence; 3 times that total value; (c) if the court cannot determine the total value of those benefits—30% of the corporation’s adjusted turnover during the breach turnover period for the offence. (4) An offence against subsection (1) committed by a person other than a body corporate is punishable on conviction by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding 2,000 penalty units, or both. Pre-commencement contracts etc. (5) Paragraph (1)(a) applies to contracts or arrangements made, or understandings arrived at, before, at or after the commencement of this section. Indictable offence (6) An offence against subsection (1) is an indictable offence.