Corporate events organisers Gregory Millar and John Webb have been found to have engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct over the promotion of several industry exhibitions by a Federal Court in Perth.
Corporate events organisers Gregory Millar and John Webb have been found to have engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct over the promotion of several industry exhibitions by a Federal Court in Perth.
The announcement is below:
The Federal Court, in Perth, has declared that Mr Gregory John Millar and Mr John Raymond Webb engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct when promoting various industry exhibitions.
The court found misleading conduct in relation to critical aspects of the exhibitions such as the number of other exhibitors which would participate, visitor numbers, and that the exhibitions were endorsed or supported by leading political figures.
The proceedings were instituted by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in August 2007.
Mr Millar, who carried on business as Australian Corporate Exhibitions (ACE), and Mr Webb who was ACE's National Events Manager at the time, engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct while they promoted the MineBox Expo 2006 in Perth and the Sydney International Mining & Engineering Expo (SIMEX 06).
Mr Millar and Mr Webb were also involved in the promotion of the Australian Industry Expo 2005 (Aus Industry 05) in Perth by Media & Events Australia Pty Ltd (now in liquidation).
Justice Gilmour made a number of declarations by consent in relation to misleading and deceptive conduct in contravention of the Trade Practices Act 1974. The conduct included representations that:
- the then Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Howard, had provided a message of support or consented to the publication of a message of support in regards to SIMEX 06 when he had not;
- the then Premier of Western Australia, Dr Gallop, had provided a message of support or consented to the publication of a message of support in regards to Aus Industry 05 and MineBox 06 when he had not;
- 30,000 visitors would attend Aus Industry 05 and at least 20,000 people were expected to attend MineBox 06 without reasonable grounds for making those representations;
- more than 2,500 exhibitors were scheduled for Aus Industry 05 which was not the case and there would be approximately 1,500 exhibitors at SIMEX 06 without reasonable grounds for making that representation;
- and at various times prior to SIMEX 06 only 24 stands or less remained available when at those times more than 24 stands were available.
In addition to the declarations the consent orders included injunctions restraining similar conduct in the future, a requirement that Mr Millar and Mr Webb attend a trade practices compliance seminar and pay the ACCC's costs. Mr Millar was also ordered to publish a notice on the internet and in various newspapers.
ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said this is a warning to all expo organisers about the dangers of over-promising and under-delivering when promoting their events.
"Industry expos are an important outlet for businesses to promote their range of goods and services to customers. Factors such as the expected visitor and exhibitor numbers and endorsement by prominent industry and community leaders are important considerations for a business which is deciding whether to exhibit."
