Judith Troeth (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I beg your pardon! Mr Messenger’s senior counsel demanded mediation. At mediation they fined Mr Messenger $46,000; legal fees cost $18,600—a total fee of $64,600. Mr Messenger is a 70-year-old pensioner. He lives with his wife in Melbourne. Obviously he is in no position whatever to pay this money, and I find it extremely ironic that the ACCC, which is supposed to encourage competition, discourage monopoly and look after the small trader, the small businessman, and protect them from big monopolies, is forcing this gentleman to pay this money, which he can certainly not afford. I understand there are collections being taken up and so on. But I felt it only fair to raise this matter in the Senate because his efforts to raise it in other places have not met with much success. I sincerely hope that the ACCC finds reason to take up this case again, look at it again and consider what its true responsibilities are.