By James Atkinson
Woolworths has won the latest in a series of legal skirmishes with WA liquor regulators over a Dan Murphy’s store proposed for suburban Perth.
Overturning the Supreme Court of WA decision of November last year, the state’s Court of Appeal yesterday ruled that liquor regulators had failed to properly apply the public interest test in rejecting the Bicton Dan Murphy’s.
The Court of Appeal said the Liquor Commission of WA did not properly consider the consumer requirements in the Bicton locality specifically for the range of liquor products and services that Woolworths proposed to provide.
The decision means Woolworths’ original application will be reviewed by the commission, taking into account the law and principles handed down in the latest appeal judgment.
A Woolworths spokeswoman said the company was pleased with the latest ruling.
Woolworths first applied to open the Bicton store in July 2009.
If the court applies the principal of comparing what the big 2 can provide with the rest of the country’s retailers the big 2 could never be refused anything they apply for.(as is nearly the case now).
With Groceries, fuel,liquor, insurance,hardware,office supplies (the list goes on & on)to cross market. The discount of fuel & liquor giveaways, it appears that even our Governments are powerless against them.
What a joke. The Winemakers Federation of Australia Report outlines the anticompetitive conduct of the supermarkets.