Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth)
Section 44ZZRH
Determining Guilt
The provision
(1) A corporation may be found guilty of an offence against section 44ZZRF or 44ZZRG even if:
(a) each other party to the contract, arrangement or understanding is a person who is not criminally responsible; or
(b) subject to subsection (2), all other parties to the contract, arrangement or understanding have been acquitted of the offence.
Note: Party has an extended meaning—see section 44ZZRC.
(2) A corporation cannot be found guilty of an offence against section 44ZZRF or 44ZZRG if:
(a) all other parties to the contract, arrangement or understanding have been acquitted of such an offence; and
(b) a finding of guilt would be inconsistent with their acquittal.
Legislative history
Introduced by Trade Practices Amendment (Cartel Conduct and Other Measures) Act 2009
Operative: 24 July 2009
Commentary
The insertion of this provision was part of the package of reforms introducing criminal penalties for cartel conduct. The reforms also created a parallel civil cartel prohibition, replacing the former s 45A which dealt directly with price-fixing.
The reforms were initially recommend by the Dawson Committee as part of its 2002-2003 inquiry into the Competition Law provisions of the Trade Practices Act.
See further information and resources on the cartel page.
