Carbon Tax: ACCC makes example of Actrol

ACTROL Parts has been fined $520,000 plus $50,000 costs by the Federal Court of Australia for “making false or misleading representations” about the effect of the Carbon Tax on refrigerant prices in a case initiated by the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission).

It is the only Carbon Tax case taken to court by the ACCC – four others agreed to take remedial action or paid an infringement notice and the watchdog has so far taken no action following the Carbon Tax repeal.

As VASA reported in the June 2014 edition of Hot Air, the court case centred on a letter sent to around 8000 Actrol customers and posted on its website on June 20 2012 attributing large price increases on refrigerants R134a, R410A, R404A, R407C and R507 to the introduction of the Carbon Tax, changes in input costs and general market conditions.