TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2006 VOpinion &Analysis

NAA B08

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA305 William StreetMelbourneJustice Spender, Justice Branson,Justice Marshall: Court 6a (level 6)Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (Acn123 123 124) & Anor V Finance SectorUnion Of AustraliaJustice Sundberg, Justice Kenny,Justice Gyles: Court 8b (level 8)Ergon Energy Corporation Limited VThe Commissioner Of Taxation Of TheCommonwealth Of Australia; JusticeFinkelstein: 9.30: Court 8g (level 8)D C Ot V South Eastern Dumpers(Aust) Pty Ltd; Glenn A. Barber VSimonds Homes Pty Ltd;(P)Vid259/2006 Roderick NeilSalfinger V Paul Pattison & Ors; RobertJohn Edge As Liquidator Of Eco PanelsAustralasia Pty Ltd. Not Before 10:30:Hearing: In The Matter Of CoulcoTrading Pty Ltd. Hearing; Justice Finkelstein: Court 8f(level 8); South Australia Registry,Court No. 2 Level 5: Mulvaney(as LiqOf Rowse Flowers Pty) In Liq V Tony’sWholesale Flowers P/L Acn 056 632850Justice Jessup: Court 8c (level 8)10.15: Basser V Commissioner OfTaxation Of The Commonwealth OfAustraliaJustice Tracey: Court 8b (level 8):10.15: Am Hitpro Pty Ltd V .AuDomain Administration Limited. Registrar Connard Court 9a (level 9)10:15: Notice OfMotion: Calypso Haulage Pty Ltd (Acn000 032 128) V Caltex AustraliaPetroleum Pty Ltd (Acn 000 032 128)Registrar Mussett: Court 9c (level 9)9.30: Glenn Anthony Crisp (Liquidator)V G.S.F Australia Pty Ltd. SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIAPostal Address: 210 William StreetMelbourneInternet Address:http://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.auCourt of AppealCriminal DivisionJustice Vincent, Justice Ashley,Justice Redlich Blue Court, 459Lonsdale St. (For Judgment) - 9:30 - Rv. Van Xang NguyenTrial DivisionCriminal DivisionJustice Teague Court 10, 210 WilliamSt. (Mention) - 9:30 - DPP v. GeorgePantazopoulos Justice Smith Court 2,210 William St. (Trial) - 10:30 - R v.Ronald William Crawford JusticeHarper Sitting at County Court 3-4(Part heard) - 10:15 - DPP v. Tuan QuocTran Justice Kellam Court 4, 210William St. (Trial) - 10:30 - DPP v.Hakeem Hakeem JusticeHabersberger Court 11, 210 WilliamSt. (Part heard) - 10:00 - R v. WayneGeoffrey Strawhorn Justice Kaye Court

12, 210 William St. (Part heard) -10:00 - R v. Stephen Cox & GlennSadlerCommon Law DivisionJustice Gillard Court 7, 210 WilliamSt. (Major Torts List) - (Part heard) -10:30 - Twentieth Super PaceNominees P/L v. Aust’n Rail TrackCorp. Ltd Justice Williams Court 9,210 William St. (For Judgment) - 9:15 -Henderson & ors v. Read & ors ListingMaster Court 4, 436 Lonsdale St.10:30 - Wenco Industrial P/L v. WWIndustrial P/L & Anor; Barton, C & Anorv. Stiff, J & AnorCommercial and Equity DivisionJustice Harper Sitting at County Court3-4 (Intellectual Property List) -(Directions) - 9:30 - Playcorp P/L v.Christopher Box & anor JusticeMandie Court 6, 210 William St. (ForSubmissions) - 10:30 - Sent v.Primelife Corp. Ltd; Porter v. PrimelifeCorp. Ltd; Primelife Corp. Ltd v.Mainpoint Developments P/L JusticeDodds-Streeton Court 1, Old HighCourt, 450 Lt Bourke St. (CorporationsList) - (Part heard) - 10:30 - 6436/03Peter Stiles & ors v. PermanentTrustee Aust. Ltd (ACN 008 412 913)& anor Justice Whelan Court 3, OldHigh Court, 450 Lt Bourke St.(Commercial List) - (Part heard) - 10:30- F5825 Quiet Achiever InvestmentsP/L v. MDM Properties P/L & anorJustice Hollingworth Court 8, 210William St. (Directions) - 9:30 - DanielHall v. Aust’n Finance Direct (VictorianTaxation Appeals) - (Trial) - 10:30 -Vontap P/L v. Commissioner of StateRevenue Listing Master Court 4, 436Lonsdale St. 10:30 - Walker, B v.Masillimani, E & AnorPractice CourtJustice Teague Court 10, 210 WilliamSt. 10:30 - Practice Court BusinessURGENT APPLICATIONS - Contact the Associate to the Practice CourtJudge (AFTER HOURS ONLY) on 0412251 757 or 0419 303 981MastersSenior Master Court 2, 436 LonsdaleSt. (Civil Management List) -(Directions Hearing) - 10:30 - 1. TFMPart IV Directions/Applications MasterKings Court 4, 436 Lonsdale St. (Pre-trial Directions Hearing) - 10:00 - 1.Ampower Investments v. Penver; 2. Inthe Will and Estate of Bruce Johnston;3. Thorneycroft v. Benalla and DistrictMemorial Hospital & anor; 4.Newsome v. Voyages Hotels & ResortsP/L; 5. Webb, C v. Southern Health; 6.Elms, M & ors v. Grace, O & anor; 7.Finn, S v. Karlsson, A; 8. Gazmack P/Lv. Orr & ors; 9. Faccin, S & anor v.McBeth, D; 10. Director of PublicProsecutions v. Riley, A; 11. PMP PrintP/L v. Aust’n Farmers Information andBuying Guides P/L; 12. Dontsios v.

Eastern Health; 13. Laney v. Sharman;14. Corner, M v. Doig, W; 15. A1 TelAust. P/L v. NEC Business SolutionsLtd; 16. Fraser v. Singline; 17.Mapleson, K & anor v. Abel, B; 18.Victorian Managed Insurance Authorityv. Roe, T & ors; 19. The Director ofPublic Prosecutions v. Gyurcsik, L; 20.Ancon Trading P/L v. McConnell DowellConstructions (Aust.) P/L; 21.Fenchurch P/L v. Maxim ElectricalServices (Victoria) P/L; 22. MainRoads Construction P/L & anor v.Samary Enterprises P/L; 23. Byrne, Sv. Marles, V & anor; 24. Gowlett, B &anor v. Shoad P/L & anor; 25.Kalogirou, K v. Hutchings, L 10:30 -26. Ellison, G v. Richter, T; 27.Kambouropoulos, T v. Amaca P/L11:00 - 28. Blomquist & anor v. LisaHo Designs P/L; 29. Lont, P v. AmacaP/L; 30. McDonald v. Ashley; 31. Gray& ors v. Guy; 32. Griffiths v. Amaca P/L& anor; 33. Kelleher v. Esposito; 34.McNiece v. Nevill; 35. Shaw v.Blanchett & anor; 36. Tousoulis & anorv. Greek Orthodox Community ofHobson’s Bay Bay Incorp (Application) -11:00 - 37. Bromley, W v. Glen EchoP/L & anor (Masters) - 11:00 - 38.Martin, J v. Farsham Johnston P/L(Applications) - 12:00 - 39. Cave(Aust.) P/L v. Peterson, A; 40.Stonnington v. Southern PropertyGroup; 41. New Wave Aust. P/L v.Austrimi Seafoods P/L (Masters) - Notbefore 4:30 - 42. Stewart, I v.Workforce (Vic) P/L & anor; 43.Victorian Workcover Authority v. ThiessServices P/L Not before 4:45 - 44.Simpson, J v. Marli, W Master DowlingQC Hearing Room, Old High Court, 450Lt Bourke St. 11:30 - Donis & Ors. v.Donis 12:00 - Meridian Retail Pty.Ltd.v. Aust’n Unity Retail Network Pty.Ltd.Master Efthim Court 3, 436 LonsdaleSt. (General) - 10:30 - 1. Sutherland v.Simmonds Master Efthim MeetingRoom, 436 Lonsdale St. (General) -2:15 - 2. Thiele, M. v. Thiele, L. MasterEfthim Court 3, 436 Lonsdale St.(General) - 4:15 - 3. Prentice v.Cornwall Stoddart (A Firm) & anor 4:30- 4. Cole & ors v. Holt & ors MasterWood Court 6, 436 Lonsdale St. 9:30- (Taxation) - Quinto CommunicationsP/L v. Talia Sound & Vision P/L 10:00- (Taxation) - Shmee v. BresamInvestments P/L & orsFAMILY COURT OF AUSTRALIA305 William StreetMelbourneCommonwealth Law Courts 305William Street: Melbourne, 3000 10:Court 2b, Level 2: Justice Kay:Reynolds S & Da 09:30: Court 4f,Level 4: Justice Guest: Iles S J & B J10: Paul F & D; Court 4c, Level 4:Justice Carter: Williams J W & J L;Mandoulidis S & Napoli F L; Cluney W

P & Russell D C & Russell B D 10:Court 4a, Level 4: Justice Young:Glynn C M & M; Stokes G J C & K 10:Court 4d, Level 4: Justice Bennett:Allen L J & Mc Caughan R B 09:45:Court 2a, Level 2 Senior RegistrarFitzGibbon: Ta’ufo’ou; Pirotta J V & E;Rodda G S & C R; Ponnusamy V & S;Hunter D B & Cowan A; Milosevich E &Sovacki M; Clabby B C & Eastwood N& Clabby T E; Clabby T E & Eastwood NL; Yandall P C & Pitt N J; Boglis T AndBoglis M; Abdi M A & Noy H G 09:30:Court 2d, Level 2: RegistrarRiddiford: Whelan; Toh T C & J U;Wilson & Watson; Carvalho J M & J;Tasker R J & J A; Watt J K & C M;Pickles R M & C R; Virgona J K & J S;Dwyer P A & Barry R R; Milotin D &Falzon M; Buturovic Z & Djeric Z; BathC L & Pepyat S K; Percan M & WarrenA & S; D’intinosante L J & F G;Eastough S M & Kavanagh J;Mccormick B A & Fletcher J D;Felsinger S R & Georgopoulos M;Amarasekera S & T & Amarasekera A;O’neale W W & S C; Madafferi. FEDERAL MAGISTRATES COURT OF AUSTRALIA305 William StreetMelbourne10: Mlm Court 2c, Level 2: FederalMagistrate Connolly: Spee A & M D;Burne K & Ryan J; Cutting J & Lewis MA; Langley C & Wilson B A; Harrison AC & Hughes J A; Ball G J & Snibson JL; 10: Mlm Court 6f Level 6: FederalMagistrate Hartnett: Krooglik W & WJ; 9:15: Mlm Court 2j, Level 2:Registrar Hubble: Coelho A G & L H;Sun Q & Chen Y; Tran T A & H T; GironM S & J A; Jones D S & A M; Llona D& L M J; Merry B J & W G; Price R B &K L; Rickard P T & L; Smith S L & S M;Tritton J A & R F; Webster M A & L;Zahra T M & S P; Bogdanovic Z & Z;Hounsell J & A S; Huang J H & Lee T;Liu Q & Zhang C J; Seymour P A & J E;Christie T M & S J; Loughnan D G & LA; Nguyen Q C & T H C; Pendavingh M& S K; 9:15: Mikkelsen A J & A N;O’doherty B H & H M; Pham H E &Nguyen H L; Mulholland W P & A M;Cheong L G & West M I; Nguyen N T &Siu S H S; Stocker E & Clarke D A;Mohammad A A & Karam S A; Cowin SR & Kearney G M; Noakes B J &Herbert M J; Boskovski I & BoskovskaD; White L & Valladares Yanez M;10:30: Mlm Court 2j, Level 2:Strauch; Hui L & W; Hives R & M R;Chen M & Chiu L; Gray S A & E K; ReidC J & S L; Lee K L & Gay D K; HampsonW R & L J; Stokes I W & H L; Ciotti T &Lin T; Bowman D A & J C; Wen D Q &Xie M L; Smith I & J R M; Krammer J &L F; Kirkham R W & I; Mckenzie L A &Enterkin J A; Van Der Werf S T & R M;Palmer, Elizabeth Jane Ellen;Greenwood C V & Mason A J; Mcgrath

M M & Kiely M F; Leworthy M J & CainG R; Anau A M & Tautuaa F S;Melbourne Federal Magistrates CourtNewspaper Report For 15 aug 2006;Estcourt C I & Gray B E; GnanaratnamS R & D M; Svetonevelskaya A &Hamilton B; Narula K & Puniani A;Trevethan D M & L R; Mackenzie C M& R A; Stephens K A & P N; SchubachG C & V A; Newcombe E M & D T;Tarrant G R & D L; Stewart J A & M C;Kavvadas D & F; Bass D C & S M;11:30: Cheng; Demir Z & A; Rattan B& S; Rose P M & M; Kyriakou A & S;Webb J P & D S; Garner D R & Barlowgarner L J A; Ward L M R & J M; TuckerN P & M A; Lang G P & C P M; JacobyA A & R E; Waite D R & L J; Moody J A& J S; Langdon D & L M; Hogan P J &F R; Zhang Y & Wang Y; Milward basonP M & Semmler P E; Mawdsley D J &Dalla Lana D L; Sevigny C P & Pelaez NM; Chishkovsky K A & S P; Norton A &Siljama K; Hormazabal I Y & D J;Melhem H G & Jose B A; Willman J A &C E J; Mai T T & Luong V S; Burgio G &Saleem A; Lam T K L & Vu T H;Johnston H A & D J; Goldberg M A & TM; Mulhall K M & J S; Mason A J & ML T; Heyward A J & C A; Crljenkovic D &S; Strangio F & B; Lloyd N S & A;Melbourne 9:45: Mlm Court 6j Level6: Federal Magistrate Hughes:Mifsud M & M; Murray S L & B E;Windsor R A & C J; Singh L R & Ladu GE; Stancombe C & Clark H; Taylor R L& Armour taylor S J; Mcloughlan O D &Pickering S M; Woton Ayol D Y & AjengNyok N A; Dockendorff P G & Egerton RM; Imadonmwonyi C & Palomares C;Zaker Tabrizi L & Voghooee A;Gontscharow C & Gontscharow M;Giankoulas A & Giankoslas B;Albanese M & Travaglini T M; Coulle DM & Service D J; Szuba J C & ColthurstR; George J L & Paydon C J; Corbett EM & Brown D P; Cooper T & Muhling PF; Tomicic J & Trodd R P; 9:45:Tsesmetzis A & B K; Westgate M &King L; Hogan A L & L P; Sabatino C &G; Abbouche M & S; Gray N B & L J;10: Mlm Court 6h Level 6: RegistrarMarrone: Furlonger L A & R R; KramarJ & Cesljar A; Lalande H J & Lalande N& Anderson B D; Taylor S A & Lippis J;10: Mlf Court 4e, Level 4: FederalMagistrate O’dwyer: Anastasiou M &S; 09:30: Mlm Court 2e, Level 2:Federal Magistrate Phipps: Kitcher D J& Markwick K R M; 10: Mlm Court2e, Level 2: Ross D J & L M;Saltalamacchia A R & Cowan B D;Mlm Court2h, Level 2:Federal Magistrate Walters: Wall W E& S J; Handley G J & Hallawell D L;Turner S & Hampton T; Hodgkinson A S& J M; Child Support Registrar &Richardson S J; Mcintosh H E & S;Sebire K L & A P.

FEDERAL MAGISTRATES' COURT OF AUSTRALIAMelbourne Registry305 William StreetMelbourneFederal Magistrate O’sullivan: Court6e Level 6: 10:15: Hearing: Mzxjq vMima & Anor. Federal MagistrateBurchardt: Court 6g Level 6: 10:15:Hearing: Soulisack Thavixay v Mima &Anor. Registrar Parrott: Court 8hLevel 8: 9:30: First Court Date: CmwBank Of Aust. v Hieu M Nguyen & Anor;Body Corporate Strata Plan No.318109f v Surdex Steel P/L v FrankTurcino; Comxmonwealth Bank OfAustralia v Revlita Klodinsky; BodyCorporate Plan No. 404635 v ChristineSkourides; Monir Nassar v DavidWells; Cambro Nominees P/L v RalphMirabelli; Anz Bank Vs Patrick Gatt vBody Bronze International P/L vElisabeth Gonebale; Laminex GroupLimited v Leslie Graeme Beard;Bendigo Bank Limited v Joanna EllenWilliams; Cbfc Leasing P/L v JasonBelad; Part Heard: Diners Club PtyLimited (a.c.n. 004 343 051) vNicholas Farid Wakim; John HenryKillinan Brunner v Mark Jonathon IrvingBrunner; Analisa Donald v HikmetDemiral; Vicki Ann Schuler And Anor vGraham Neil Murray; Sarid NomineesP/L (acn 005 791 659) v Kevin JamesBrown; Abbott Stillman Wilson ( A Firm)v Mark Jonathan Irving Brunner. AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION80 Collins StreetMelbourneInternet Address:http://www.airc.gov.auDeputy President Ives: Court 6: Level37: 11:30: Femino V Red AustraliaEquipment P/L 10:30: Knight VMccolls Tankers 2:15: Ryan VStrathbogie Shire Council.Commissioner Lewin: Court 12: Level33: 2:30: - Twu V Midland Milk P/LT/as Dairy Farmers. CommissionerSimmonds: Conference Room 3: Level34: 10:15: Williams V ControlledMedications P/L (all Farm) 2:15:Powell V Mcgills Technical AndBusiness Bookstore. CommissionerBlair: Court 9: Level 34: 9:30:Mccarthy V Greens Relocations P/L.Commissioner Hingley: Court 12:Level 33: 10:00: Olin V Toll Logistics11:30: Hadera V Shark CleaningServices P/L. Commissioner Cribb:Court 10: Level 34: 9:30: Allen VColes Myer Logistics P/L.Commissioner Eames: Court 3: Level38: 10:00: - Top Cat Electrics (vic) P/LEnterprise Bargaining Agreement2003-2005 10:30: Afmepkiu -Proposed Protected Action Ballot ByEmployees Of Arnott’s Snackfoods - A

Partnership Between Arnott’s Sbi PtyLimited And Arnott’s Sbf Pty Limited.2:00: Vayner V Abberfield PrivateNursing Home. Commissioner Whelan:Court 14: Level 33: 10:00: Pavli VVisyboard P/L. CommissionerGrainger: Court 13: Level 33: 10:00:Asu V Moonee Valley City Council AndOthers 2:15: - Tibaldi Small Goods(australasia) P/L And AustralasianMeat Industry Employees UnionAgreement 2002 (by Telephone). COUNTY COURT250 William StreetMelbourneCRIMESupreme Court Sitting At CountyCourt 3-4 Justice Harper Trial: 10:15Am Tuan Quoc Tran Pt Hd: Court G-1Judge Dyett: 10:30: Hall, Craig. CourtG-2 Judge Smallwood: 10:00: Irwin,Alfred; Rowlands, Katrina; Rowlands,Ricky. Court G-4 Judge Sexton: 9:15:Curtis, Jason; O’shea, Patrick; Bowker,Daryl; Elias, Jonathon; Grosser, Luke;Jones, Phillip. Court 1-9 JudgeLawson: 9:30: Corcoran, Carole10:00: Ziegerink, Thomas. Court 2-2Chief Judge: 9:00: Morris, George;He, Alan; Nguyen, Van; Van, Phong; AlAbbudi, Haydar; Warner, Steven;Hislop, Michael; Wang, Yi; Viola,Fabian 10:30: Yeomans, Francis.Court 2-9 Judge Nicholson: 9:15:Nguyen, Hong; Botan, Mohammed;Jozic, Kristijan; Komak, Muhammad;Skopalj, Ivan; Gradman, Kalman;Previsic, Valentine 11:00: Moore,Riggs. Court 3-1 Judge Cohen: 10:30:Conyers, Gary. Court 3-2 JudgeShelton: 9:00: Kapuranis, Katrina10:00: Nguyen, Den; Kelly, Robert;Wende, Werner. Court 3-5 JudgeSexton: 10:30: Demiri, Sermet. Court4-1 Judge Hicks: 10:30: Nguyen, Vinh;Lemon, Ian; Giannone, Paul; Thomas,Jason; Falcone, Paul; Kogelman,Jason. Court 4-2 Judge Higgins:10:30: Miller, Paul. Court 4-4 JudgeRobertson: 10:30: Warner, Brian11:30: Berry, Michael. Court 5-1Judge Gullaci: 10:30: Hatzipanagiotis,James. Court 5-2 Judge Punshon:10:15: Hughes, Barry 10:30: Cao, Ha;Trinh, Hien. Court 5-3 Judge Gaynor:10:30: Shekel, Leonora; Kuka, Licha;Roe, Jason. Court 6-1 Judge Jenkins:10:30: Vella, Rodney. Court 6-2 JudgeNixon: 10:00: Elwood, Phillip. Court 6-3 Judge Williams R.g: 10:00:Schweizer, Paul. Court 6-4 JudgeDouglas: 10:30: Davies, Christopher.Court 7-1 Judge Rizkalla: 10:30: Kis,Joseph. Court 7-2 Judge Hogan:10:30: Merrigan, Matthew; Greene,Jeffrey; Merrigan, Matthew. Court 7-3Judge Hampel: 10:30: Meyer, David.Court 7-4 Judge Wilmoth: 10:30:

Rogbeer, Nittin. COUNTY COURT250 William StreetMelbourneCIVILCourt G 5, Judge Lewitan: 10:30:Winchester v Barton & Ors. Court 1 1,Judge Anderson: 10:00: Forrest &Anor v Fraser & Anor. Court 1 3, JudgeDuckett: 10:30: France v Tac. Court 15, Judge Harbison: Glanvill v EverichPty.ltd. Court 1 6, Judge Strong:10:00: Edwards v Adecco Australia P/L& Anor. Court 1 6, WorkcoverReserves Judge: 10:30: Giftakis vRowdy Holdings P/L. Court 1 7, JudgeHolt: 10:30: Jessiman v MichaelBogicevic & Ors. Court 1 8, JudgeDuggan: 10:30: Durkin v MorningtonRacing Club; Vwa v Mornington RacingClub Inc. Court 1 8, Reserves Judge:10:30: Panama Lane P/L v Tt DraftingP/L; Necoska v Dokur. Court 2 5,Judge Coish: 10:00: Parrish v CguWorkers Compensation Ltd; Harvey vVwa & Ors; Murphy v McpheeTransport P/L & Anor; Purnell vWeathermaster P/L & Anor; BreeMarshall v Qantas Airways Ltd & Anor;Jakupi v 006 407 567 Operations &Anor; Harvey v Plantation HardwoodSawmills 7 Cambridg; Sevenich v Vwa;Martino v Remi Mechanical PlantInstallatin & A; Mickoski v Export Meat& Anor; Wendy Joy Leerson v GoodmanFielder P/L; Norton v Diver MetalProducts P/L & Anor; Selleck v BristileLimited; Vidic v Catalyst RecruitmentCentre & Anor; Kostadinova v RoyalWomen’s Hospital; Obradovic v Vwa;Isac v Betta Foods & Anor; Bjelja v SpcArdmona Operations Limited; Clarke vFanman(echuca)P/L; Bahonko vMoorfields Community & Ors 10:30:Bloch v Tatefield Pty.ltd. Court 2 5,Workcover Reserves Judge: 10:30:Trajkov v Sita Bus Lines P/L. Court 26, Judge Pannam: 10:30: Jones vPlatinum Health & Anor. Court 3 2,Judge Shelton: Sarkovski v Vwa &Anor. Court 5 4, Judge Howie: 10:30:Lazarou v Rota Die International P/L.Directions Hearing: Court 1 1, JudgeAnderson: 9:30: Lomark P/L & Anorv Hawthorn Accident Repair: Court 15, Judge Harbison: Kohut v ConloConstructions P/L Byrne v MetrolinkVictoria P/L (t/as Yarra Trams Husseinv Bayside City Council & OrsZenelovski v A & F Lamattina & SonsP/L Insurance Finance v QbeInsurance & Anor. 10:30: Kindred vColivan P/L; Vwa v FrontlineAustralasia P/L Duggan & Ors. vForsberg. 2:15: Ci 05 03879. Court 25, Judge Coish: 10:00: Dempster vJ.w. & W.j.hoiles P/L: Zammit v CsrEmolium Services P/L: Burt vPalmtrans P/L & Ors: Lambert vLandfill Reductions P/L: Dayakli vStrathfield Group Limited: Wachter v

Qantas Airways Limited: Collins vRobert Bosch (australia) P/L: PracticeCourt: For Urgent Applications AfterThe Court Has Risen For The Day OrDuring Any Vacation Contact TheAssociate To The Practice Court JudgeOn 0419 384 312. Court 1 4, JudgeF.b.lewis: 10:30: Commonwealth BankOf Australia v Mclaughlin; BritishAmerican v Xu & Ors; Loukissas vPrecision Panel P/L & Ors; Memmolo vCabato; Richards v Tac; RomanCatholic Trusts Corp v Sharp & PendreyP/L. Court 1 8, Reserves Judge:10:30: Lindsey v Philip Morris Limited.Registrar Hearing: Court Registry,Deputy Registrar: Gilcrist v LinfoxTransport & Anor; Stewart v FeltexAustralia Pty Ld. STATE CORONER'S OFFICEMelbourne Coronial ServicesSouthbankCourt 1: 10.00: Gee, N.Court 2: 9.30: Iaria, R10.00: Faulkner L, Faulkner, C.ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNALCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIASouthgate Tower40 City RoadSouthbankInternet Address:http://www.aat.gov.auDeputy President Forgie: TelephoneDirections Hearing: 9:30: Roper vRepatriation Commission 10:00:Gibson v Repatriation Commission10:45: Rose v Comcare. Ms RlPerton, Member Registry 16th Floor:9:30: Serpanos v Comcare; HearingRoom 1, Level 14, Southgate HwtTower: 10:00: Kamil v Sec Dept OfFamily & Community Ser & Anor. Mr EFice, Member: Hearing Room 2, Level14, Southgate Hwt Tower: 10:00:Miliankos v Comcare. Dr Hughes,Member: Hearing Room 5, Level 14,Southgate Hwt Tower: 10:00:Secretary, Dept Of Families,Community v Luke. ConferenceRegistrar Exner: 9:30: Floyd v MilitaryRehab & Compensation Commission10:00: Ghiberto v Aust PostalCorporation 10:30: Smith v MaerskSupply Services P/L 2:00: Elsegood vAust Postal Corporation 2:30:Tasneem v Csl Limited. ConferenceRegistrar Carins: 10:00: You vRepatriation Commission 12:00:Stanbury v Repatriation Commission12:30: Byrne v RepatriationCommission 2:00: Venables vRepatriation Commission; MediationRoom 2, Level 16, Southgate HwtTower: 2:30: Marioli v Comcare. VICTORIAN CIVIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL5th Floor, 55 King St, MelbourneInternet Address:www.vcat.vic.gov.au ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LIST

Mediation: 10:00: Roma Taylor V S.o.v- Departrment Of Education AndTraining, Hilma Batza; CIVIL CLAIMS LISTCompulsory Conferences: SeniorMember M. Levine: 9:30: Maxwell &Iris Vogele V Supreme Caravans P/l;Hearings: Senior Member A. Vassie:9:45: Dhilharan Sivaratnam, Gerald &Howard Junkeer V Bunnings Group Ltd,Sotico P/l, Wesfarmers Bunnings Ltd;Senior Member A. Vassie, Member P.Coldbeck, J. Grainger: Janice LeFeuvre V Ben De Bono Plumbing &Gasfitting; Terry Walton V Eagle AutoParts P/l, East Zone Motors; GelcomP/l V Econo Truck Sales; DavisLawyers V National Telecoms GroupLtd, Ge Commercial Corporation P/l11:00: Paul Seraindis V Ron Lacey;Installex Victoria P/l V Shane Gillies;Claire & Don Ashton V Wall-t-wall FloorCovering Nominees P/l 12:00: Tip TopRoofing P/l V SpecialisedConstructions P/l (directions Hearing);Tudor Carpets P/l V Gabrilla Cascini;Metropolitan Carpet Court VGermaine’s Furniture P/l; Checkrate VSheracon; P & S P/l V CarelifeAustralia P/l; Manual Labour V TotalHome Solutions 2:00: Spaceplan P/lV Neo Meridian P/l; Lorbek LuxuryCars P/l V Notebooks R Us; KithsiriPanditaratne V Hertz Australia P/L,Australian Truck & 4wd Rentals P/l;Cardinia Veterinary Centre P/l V CraigMorrison; Cardinia Veterinary CentreP/l V Vivienne Pola; Cardinia VeterinaryCentre P/l V Francis Smith; CardiniaVeterinary Centre P/l V Sue Cordelle3:00: Aarons Cleaning V MikaelaReynoldson; Bairnsdale Magistrates’Court - Member B. Lightfoot: 3:15:Terence & Joy East V Craig Jordan;Colac Magistrates’ Court - MemberH. Lambrick: 11:30: Westvic KitchensV Mavon Lennie & Stacey ThomasBuilders & Designers; Swan HillMagistrates’ Court - Member R.Phillips: 1:30: Douglas Bushby VVernon Steel Yards P/l; WangarattaMagistrates’ Court - Member A.Tilley: 2:00: Amanda Coulson V G&jTrees Service P/l 2:30: R & JExcavations V Beechworth Preserves; DOMESTIC BUILDING LISTAssessment Of Costs: Room 6.1 -Registrar A. Jacobs: 10:30: Patrick &Christina Gleeson V Geoffrey Harrison;Compulsory Conference: Room G.3 -Senior Member M. Lothian: 10:00:Modular Design & Construction P/l VIlona Prohaska; Directions Hearings:Room 6.3 - Deputy President C. Aird:9:30: Bogdan Konko V Phillip Kamay,Julia Kamay 10:00: Body CorporatePlan No. 416326 V Vero InsuranceLtd, Garfield Nominees P/l 10:30:Gregory & Deborah Sanderson VLifestyle Pools & Spas, Neville Imlach11:00: Radan Constructions P/l V

Australian International Insurance Ltd,World Grain Inspection Services P/l11:30: Conway Landscaping AndDesign V Krystine Van Zeggeren12:00: Hgfl V Phillip Watts, City OfHume 2:15: Sc Land Richmond P/l VDura Constructions P/l; Room G.3 -Senior Member M. Lothian: 9:30:Body Corporate No Ps430656w VAllianz Australia Insurance Ltd; Room6.4 - Senior Member R. Young: DrJames Brice V Steven Rossiter, VistaPlex Developments P/l; Room 1.8 -Senior Member R. Walker: 2:15:Searle Bros Building Contractors VPhillip & Janice Barnes; Small ClaimHearing: Room 1.8 - Senior MemberR. Walker: 10:00: Jason Reason V Q-marketing; Mediations: Room 1.5 -Mediator I. Delacy: Patricia & AdrianMaxwell V Timeless Swimming Pools &Tennis Courts P/l, Supreme Solar P/l;Room 1.6 - Mediator R. Lawrence:Maciej & Malgorzata Cygler V VictorianManaged Insurance Authority; GENERAL LISTCompulsory Conferences: Room 1.2 -Deputy President A. Coghlan: 9:30:Michael Patterson V Tac; Tracy MoodyV Tac; Decision: Room G.1 - VicePresident Judge J. Bowman: 10:00:Kim Wells V Vic. Police; DirectionsHearing: Room 1.3 - Deputy PresidentM. Macnamara: 9:30: William RoundsV Rhonda Peters; Hearings: Room 1.2- Deputy President A. Coghlan: 10:00:John Royce V Department Of Justice;Room 1.4 - Senior Member R. Davis:10:30: Striling Horne V Rose Tront; PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT LISTDirections Hearing: Room 5.3 -Member P. Martin: 10:00: WhittleseaCc V Jeffrey Reading, Tom Harper, SpiPowernet P/l, Rae Remeeus;Hearings: Room 5.4 - Senior MemberI. Marsden And Member G. Chase:Rowcliffe P/l V Stonnington Cc; Room5.1 - Senior Member R. Horsfall AndMember S. Mainwaring: SkyeEnvironmental Services P/l VFrankston Cc; Room 5.13 - SeniorMember G. Sharkey: Harmonius BlendBuilding Corp P/l V Yarra Ranges Sc2:15: John Dikranis- Catt Architects VBayside Cc; Room 5.2 - SeniorMember M. Baird: 10:00: SpiritorHoldings P/l V Mitchell Sc; Room 5.2- Senior Member R. Byard: 2:15:Moreland Cc V Carmel, Gaetano AndAndrew Barbone; Room 5.5 - MemberT. Bilston-mcgillen: 10:00: Dr JuneKane And Others V Moonee Valley Cc;On Site - Member R. Naylor: KenSeferovich V Minister For Planning;Mediations: Room 5.15 - Member L.Hewet: 11:30: Alan Gemmell VMelbourne Cc 2:15: St KildaEsplanade P/l V Port Phillip Cc.

LAW LIST August 15

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THE AGE . TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2006theage.com.au8

VOpinion&Analysis theage.com.au/businessLETTERSEmail letters to mshort@theage.com.au

STEPHEN BARTHOLOMEUSZ ‘The test is whether it islikely to lead to a substantiallessening of competition.’

ACCC not totally friendly with OneSteel and Smorgon’s friendly mergerIT WOULD have come as nogreat surprise to the protagon-ists in the proposed friendlymerger of OneSteel andSmorgon Steel that the Austra-lian Competition and ConsumerCommission has some ‘‘issues’’.

Putting two of the nation’sthree big steel makers togetherwas always going to be rigor-ously scrutinised.

Indeed, while the companiesmay have been a little surprisedby the nature of some of theACCC’s concerns and theweight it has attached to them,the areas the commission hastargeted were generally issuesthe companies had themselvesidentified and tried to address.

The merger is one of a rela-tively small number of themultitude of transactions theACCC looks at where it appliesan increasingly formal andstructured approval process.The common features of these

deals is that they tend to belarge and involve concentrationof market power and presencein markets where consolidationhas left few participants.

Toll/Patrick, Barloworld/Wattyl, Alinta/AGL and Tab-corp/UNiTAB are recentillustrations of the ACCC’sdeveloping approach to dealingwith sensitive transactions.

In the aftermath of the Toll/Patrick merger, where there hasbeen some downplaying by Toll

of the effects of the undertak-ings the ACCC imposed as theprice of approval for the deal,the commission has been dis-cernibly more rigorous andcautious about ‘‘green-lighting’’big deals.

Its market soundings arebecoming more comprehensiveand questioning.

That could be regarded aspart of the learning process thathas occurred with the introduc-tion of a revised mergerclearance process under GraemeSamuel’s chairmanship whichseeks to provide greatercertainty and transparency forall the interested parties.

It also aims for greater time-liness, with an informalobjective of completing even themajor reviews within abouteight weeks.

The detailed statements onissues of concern, and thosethat may raise concerns, are

designed to flush out responses,not just from the parties directlyinvolved, but also by those whomight ultimately be affected bya merger.

The commission, perhapsstung a little by the Toll/Patrickfallout, is going to even greaterlengths to try to ensure that itisn’t subsequently embarrassedby having to try to unscramblean omelet because it eitherhasn’t properly understood ortaken the appropriate action todeal with potentially anti-competitive outcomes.

In the OneSteel/Smorgoncase, the commission has notsurprisingly focused on themerging of the companies’ longsteel product range. If it allowsthe merger, it will be relying onimports to discipline themerged group’s behaviour.

It is also concerned themerged group would be verti-cally integrated and that it

would not only be the majorsupplier of grinding media butthe only domestic manufacturerof the steel bar used to makegrinding media.

The merged group’s domi-nance in acquiring andsupplying scrap metal in NSWwas another issue flagged.

Ultimately, those concernscould be assuaged, and maywell be assuaged, by a persuas-ive argument from theparticipants that imports —which have grown rapidly inrecent years and in some mar-kets hold the dominant share —will, in fact, disciplinebehaviour.

One of the stated reasons forthe merger was the consoli-dation of the steel industry inour region and the emergenceof players with massive scaleand capabilities that either sellinto this market or that couldsell in to this market.

The merging companies havetried to buttress their case thatimports will be sufficient toprotect levels of competition byoffering to divest, through a de-merger, the Smorgon Steel dis-tribution business and agreeingto an independent assessmentof any steel anti-dumping appli-cation they might plan to make.

The commission appearsconcerned that the demerger ofone of the distribution busi-nesses might not result in itsourcing more of its productsfrom imports. It says there areconcerns that the demergedbusiness would have strongincentives not to compete forcustomers with OneSteel and/or

to act in tandem with it interms of product range,services, pricing and terms andconditions of supply.

On ‘‘tactical’’ anti-dumpingactions, the commission hasinvited comment on whetherinstead of the independentassessment proposed by thecompanies there should beeither a moratorium on anti-dumping actions or that One-Steel should give an indemnityfor losses and damages wherean action is unsuccessful.

It isn’t satisfied the indepen-dent assessments proffered bythe companies are sufficient toalleviate concerns about theirability to use anti-dumpingprocedures to deter imports.

To the extent that thedemerged distribution businessdoesn’t compete as aggressivelyas it might with OneSteel, orindeed if the verticallyintegrated nature of the merged

entity gives it an advantage overimports, one could argue thatsome of the same incentivesthat would apply to the mergedcompany apply to the separateentities, relative to imports.

The test in competition pol-icy is not whether a transactionwould entrench a level of com-petitive intensity but whether itis likely to lead to a substantiallessening of competition.

Given the rapid increase insteel imports, which have morethan doubled in the past fiveyears, the sheer scale of manyof the regional steel makers andthe reality that there is globalconsolidation of the sectoroccurring, it is difficult to denythat there is some meaningfulcompetition and at least theprospect of increased importcompetition to discipline thebehaviour of the merged group.

bartho@theage.com.au

LETTERS

Single-desk supportershould reveal allegianceI AM dismayed by RussellMcKenzie’s letter (‘‘Why AWBsingle desk works best forgrowers’’, Business, 14/8),written in response to The Age’sreport on a speech of mine(‘‘Close single desk for good,says economist’’, Business,31/7). McKenzie’s letterdisplayed in spades the tacticsthat vested interests engage into protect their privilegedpositions.

First tactic: personally insultany individual brave enough tooppose your view. McKenzieclaimed my understanding ofthe industry was ‘‘superficial, atbest’’. But in attempting todemonstrate my superficiality,he backfired badly.

This brings me to the secondtactic: misrepresent what youropponent says. McKenzieclaimed I made the assertion‘‘that growers would have moreand better options for paymentis untrue’’.

I never made that assertion— although I happen to agreewith it. What I did say was that‘‘a free market would offer morevariety and choice of contracts,products and services (and) ifthe reputation of one exportersuffers, growers have the choiceto move to another exporter’’.

McKenzie cited AWB’sGolden Rewards scheme asproof that I was wrong. This ismind-boggling logic. The factthat a monopolist offers one ormore schemes apparentlyproves that a free market wouldnot offer more choices!

At a minimum, growerswould be able to choose who tosell their wheat to, rather thanbe forced by their governmentto deal with an organisationthat has already inflicted untolddamage on growers.

McKenzie claimed that AWBcould sell at high prices (despiteits small share of a highlycompetitive world market)

because — wait for it — ‘‘graincan be stored’’ and ‘‘volumedoes not matter’’. Who did hesay was superficial?

But the third favourite tacticof vested interests is what reallygets on my goat: don’t discloseyour affiliations. McKenzie is aserial letter writer, alwaysdefending AWB and claimingthat denial of growers’ choice issomehow good — all the whilesigning himself simply as‘‘Russell McKenzie, Yaapeet’’.

He did this all the time hewas a senior office-holder of theVictorian Farmers Federation,which has a policy of rabidlysupporting the single desk. Suchan appalling failure to disclosepast or present affiliations iswidespread in the grain indus-try. The worst examples of allare the organised campaigns bymembers of the AWB ManagingDirectors Roundtable who havespread a clear party line inletters and speeches withoutdisclosing their membership.

Over the years, McKenziehas made multiple claims thatthe sky will fall unless extremeagrarian socialism is main-tained. For example, in a letterto the Victorian premier in2001, he warned that disasterwould follow the dismantling ofthe Victorian single desk forbarley. The outstandingsubsequent success of Victoria’smove towards a free barleymarket totally destroyedMcKenzie’s credibility.

Yet he continues to recyclethe same old arguments andhad the gall to conclude hisletter with ‘‘if financial expertswant to comment on the single-desk system, can they do theirhomework first, please?’’ I’vedone my homework, MrMcKenzie, you clearly haven’tand your behaviour warrantsexpulsion from school.

Professor Paul Kerin,Melbourne Business School

Oil price spike to end, you can bet on itRecent history shows that the laws of supply anddemand will eventually bring rising petrol pricesback to earth, writes Paul Higgins.

Motorists can expect prices such as these if futurist Paul Higgins is on the money. PICTURE: SANDY SCHELTEMA

AT RECENT conferences on thefuture of biofuels, I have offereda $10 bet to anyone in the roomthat the West Texas intermedi-ate oil price will be less thanUS$40 a barrel within threeyears. So far only three peoplehave taken up the bet.

My view that the oil pricewill fall to this level by 2009may seem ridiculous given thehysteria in the media on risingoil and petrol prices. Somecommentators regard ongoingrises in oil prices as a faitaccompli. However, a logicalanalysis of the forces driving oilprices creates an extremelyplausible scenario in which oilprices will fall significantly.

The oil price is a relationshipof supply and demand. Butoverlying this relationship is themarket’s view about what willhappen to the oil price. LordBrowne, announcing BP’s recentquarterly profit, expressed theview that the market is creatingthe high oil prices rather thanphysical supply and demandrelationships.

The International EnergyAgency’s oil statistics show thatdemand and supply of oil arevery close. This explains whythe market has been so volatileover the past couple of years. Ina situation where demand andsupply are so close, any minorvariation in supply, or forecastson demand, will cause greatprice volatility. The reverse istrue if supplies rise and demandfalls, with the risk premium thatis built into the oil price rapidlydisappearing.

On the supply side of theequation, the Department ofEnergy in the US reports thatthere has been an increase of

global exploration and rotary oilrigs of about 15 per cent overthe past 12 months. If there isoil out there to be found, thenincreased drilling will find it.

Development of any findswill take time, but if the marketbelieves there are more suppliescoming on line, then the riskpremium that is built into oilprices will be reduced.

On top of conventional oilsources, there are otherresources such as tar sands inCanada and Venezuela.

Operating costs have beenreduced in recent years and,with high oil prices in themarket, development is occur-ring in tar sand extraction inparticular. The Canadian Asso-ciation of Petroleum Producerspredicts that 1 million barrels ofoil a day will be produced fromthe Athabasca tar sand depositby 2010.

What is more interesting iswhat might happen withdemand. Following sharp pricerises for oil in the 1970s, worldoil consumption reversed itself.In the book Winning the OilEndgame, the authors describehow oil consumption in the USfell 17 per cent from 1977 to1985, while GDP grew 27 percent. That reduction was pri-marily driven by the improvedefficiency of motor vehicles inresponse to high prices.

There is no reason to believethat the oil consumptionreduction the world achieved inthe late 1970s and early 1980scannot be repeated. In fact,there is every reason to believethat the reduction in oil con-sumption can be much betterfor two reasons. First, we haveaccess to better motor vehicle

technologies, such as the SaabBioPower that runs on up to85 per cent ethanol.

Second, we have significantdevelopment of biofuels occur-ring to replace fossil fuels. Thehigh-volume alternative fuel inthe world is ethanol. The twobiggest suppliers of ethanol inthe world are Brazil and the US,which produced about 32 billionlitres between them last year.

The US makes ethanol fromcorn, while Brazil producesethanol from sugar, and bothhave capacity to increase pro-duction. The US corn-based

ethanol industry is building7.7 billion litres of extra ethanolcapacity to replace 1.2 per centof transport fuel used in the US.

While 1.2 per cent does notseem like much, coupled withefficiency improvements inresponse to high fuel prices, itis fairly likely that we will see areduction in oil consumption inthe US over the next three yearsrather than a rise. This is vitalbecause, despite the growth ofChina, North America is thebiggest demand player in theworld oil industry. NorthAmerica used 25.45 million bar-

rels a day last year, comparedwith China’s 6.6 million barrelsa day. If the US moves toreduce its oil consumption itwill have a significant effect onworld demand.

This creates a scenariowhere oil production increaseswhile consumption slows its rateof growth. If this occurs, thenthe oil price will fall rapidly asthe supply demand tightnesseases and people become farless worried about possibleinterruptions to supply, takingout the risk premium.

The only caveat to my

scenario is if we have reachedpeak oil production — the pointwhere we can no longerincrease the amount of oil thatis produced annually.

A range of views place peakoil production somewherebetween 2005-2036. Once wereach peak oil, then there willbe a crunch in oil supply andprice that makes current pricinglook like a picnic, and mymoney is already on the table.

Paul Higgins is a futurist with EmergentFutures. He and his partners are writinga book on Australia’s oil future.