Cape County Coaches Pty Ltd v Redline Coaches Pty Ltd

[1982] FCA 134

IN	THE
FEDERfiL T A S M A N I A COURT OF AUSTRALIA )

- 1

D I S T R I C T	R E G I S T R Y	1	T.	N o .	G . 3	of	1981
1

G E N E R A L	D I V I S J O N	_--	)
BETWEEN:

CAPE COUNTY COACHES PTY. LIMITED I A p p l i c a n t

and

REDLINE COACHES PTY. LTD. R e s p o n d z p t

ORDER c

JUDGE :	N o r t h r o p J.
WHERE MADE:	C a n b e r r a
DATE :	14 J u l y 1 9 8 2

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1. The f u r t h e r hear ing of the a p p l i c a t i o n be adjourned t o

a da te to be f i x e d .

2 . E a c h p a r t y have l- iberty t o apply.

3 . C o s t s be reserved.

I .

.

I N THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA	1 1
TASMANIA DISTRICT REGISTRY	1 T. No. G . 3 of 1981
1

GENERAL	D I V I S I O N	1
BETWEEN:

CAPE COUNTY COACHES PTY. LIMITED Appl icant

and

REDLINE COACHES PTY. LTD. Respondent

.

I

NORTHROP J. REASONS FOR JUDGMENT 1 4 JULY 1982.

Cape County Coaches Pty. Limited, "the applicant",

a co rpora t ion unde r t he T rade P rac t i ces Act 1 9 7 4 a s amended,

" t h e Act",	conducts a	passenger	coach	s e r v i c e on	t h e route
Hobart-Smithton-Hobart	using	coaches	described	as	C o a s t l i n e r

Expresses. Redline Coaches Pty. Ltd., " t h e respondent" , a

corpora t ion under the Act, conducts passenger coach services

i n many p a r t s of Tasmania by coaches descr ibed as Tasmanian

Redline	Coaches.	I n	a d d i t i o n	t o	ca r ry ing	pas senge r s ,	t he
a p p l i c a n t	and	the	respondent	carry	passengers '	luggage	and

o t h e r items of f r e i g h t . -

_*__________. . - - - .-- - --- ..

. . . . . . . .

,

- 2 -

I n Tasmania t h e power t o c o n t r o l and regula te coach

t r a n s p o r t by road , o the r t han by any bus se rv ice opera ted by

t h e M e t r o p o l i t a n T r a n s p o r t T r u s t , is c o n f e r r e d on t h e

Transport	Commission	by	s t a t u t o r y p r o v i s i o n s ,	see	t h e T r a f f i c
-	A c t	1925 (Tas . ) , T ranspor t	Act	1981	(Tas . ) and r egu la t ions

made pursuant t o those Acts. I t is no t necessa ry f o r t h e

purposes of these r e a s o n s t o make d e t a i l e d r e f e r e n c e t o t h e

s t a t u t o r y p r o v i s i o n s . Under those p rov i s ions t h e T ranspor t

Commission is empowered t o g r a n t licences t o p e r s o n s t o

- p r o v i d e c o a c h s e r v i c e s b e t w e e n d i f f e r e n t p l a c e s w i t h i n

Tasmania nd t o impose r e s t r i c t i o n s a n d c o n d i t i o n s r e l a t i n g ,

t o t h e ope ra t ion o f s e rv i ces pu r suan t t o t h o s e l i c e n c e s . I t

I

is unlawful for persons t o conduct coach s e r v i c e s w i t h o u t

such a l i c e n c e .

A t a l l r e l e v a n t times t h e a p p l i c a n t h e l d a l i ce i l ce

t o o p e r a t e a coach s e rv i ce from Smi th ton t o Hobar t v i a

Launceston and re turn . The s e r v i c e was t o o p e r a t e f i v e d a y s

a week on Mondays t o F r i d a y s i n c l u s i v e . The s e r v i c e was n o t

operated over the weekend. Among t h e c o n d i t i o n s imposed w i t h

r e s p e c t t o t h e l i c e n c e were the fo l lowing:

"A Between Smithton and Hobart

( i ) there s h a l l be no r e s t r i c t i o n s o n

t h e p u t down of passengers who

commence	t h e i r	t r i p west	o f
Somerset.

(i i) pick up of passengers i s only

permitted between:

Smithtcn - Devonport

Prospec t - Launceston - P e r t h .

(iii) p u t down of p a s s e n g e r s is

permit ted only between:

Prospec t - Launceston - P e r t h

Brighton - Hobart .

B	Between Hobart and Smithton
( i ) t h e r e s h a l l b e no r e s t r i c t i o n s on

the	p i ck	up	of	passengers whose
d e s t i n a t i o n s	a r e	p o i n t s	west	Of
Somerset.

(ii) p a s s e n g e r s o f u p p i c k i s

permi t ted only	between:
Hobart - Brighton	l

P e r t h - Launceston - Prospec t .

(iii) p u t down o f p a s s e n g e r s i s

permi t ted only between:

P e r t h - Launceston - Prospec t

Devonport - Smithton."

-

The e f f e c t o f t h e t i m e t a b l e s c h e d u l e a t t a c h e d t o t h e licence

I

was t h a t t h e coach should not depart f rom specif ied towns

b e f o r e t h e times s p e c i f i e d t h e r e i n . On the journey f rom

Smithton, t h e p l a c e s so s p e c i f i e d were between Burnie and

Devonport inc lus ive , and a t Launceston. For the purposes Of

t h i s a p p l i c a t i o n , P r o s p e c t and P e r t h are t r e a t e d a s b e i n g t h e

equivalent of Launceston, w h i l e Brighton and Bridgewater are

t r e a t e d as be ing the qu iva len t o f Hobart. The e f f e c t Of

these conditions car, be summarised. On the journey Smithton

to Hobar t a passenger who commenced a journey west of

Somerset, a town a s h o r t d i s t a n c e west of Burn ie , could

comple t e t he j ou rney a t any po in t on t h e rou te t o Hobar t .

Passengers	could board	t h e	coach	a t p o i n t s b e t w e e n	B u r n i e	snd
Devonport	inclusive	provided	t h e i r	j ou rney	t e rmina ted	a t

e i ther Launceston Hobart . r On t h e journey Hobar t to

Smithton, a passenger who was t r a v e l l i n g t o a n y p o i n t west Of

Somerset	could	commence a	journey a t any	po	in	t	on	the	rou te
f rom	Hobart	o therwise	,	passengers	who	boarded	the	coach	a t

Hobart could only terminate the i r jou rney a t Launces ton OK

between Devonport and Somerset. If a passenger boarded the

-. coach a t Launceston that passenger could only terminate the

journey between Devonport and Somerset or points west of

S o m e r s e t . S i m i l a r e s t r i c t i o n s a p p l i e d w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e I

c a r r i a g e	o f	r e i g h t .	A s	between	Launceston	and	Hobart	and
Hobart	and	Launceston,	places	o	were	s p e c i f i e d	a t	which

times were s p e c i f i e d f o r t h e depa r tu re o f t he coach . There

was one coach service each way on each of t h e f i v e w e e k days .

! A t a l l r e l e v a n t times, t h e respondent h e l d a number

o f	l i cences	t o	ope ra t e	coach	s e rv i ces	be tween	spec i f i ed
p l a c e s

i n Tasmania. Among t h e l i c e n c e s s o h e l d were t h e

fol lowing:

"J. Hobart to Launceston and return

K. H o b a r t t o Wynyard v i a L a u n c e s t o n ,

Devonport and Burnie.

L. B u r n i e H o b a r t t o v i a D e v o n p o r t a n d

Launces ton. "

Timetable	schedules were	a t t a c h e d	t o	e a c h	o	f	t h o s e	l i c e n c e s .
The	s e r v i c e s were	t o be	provided	seven	days	a	week .	A t a l l

r e l e v a n t times, u n d e r t h e "J" l i c e n c e there were f o u r

se rv i ces each way each w e e k day. On three o f t hose s e rv i ces

each way t h e e f f e c t o f t h e s c h e d u l e was t h a t t h e coach should

not depart from specified places between t h e two c i t i e s

b e f o r e s p e c i f i e d times. On one se rv ice each way, namely t h e

4 .00 p.m. se rv ice f rom Hobart and t h e 7.00 a.m. s e r v i c e from

Launceston, there was no s u c h r e s t r i c t i o n . T h e r e were two

se rv ices ach way on Sa tu rdays and on Sundays and t h e

s t a n d a r d r e s t r i c t i o n s as t o times of departure f rom specified

p l a c e s a p p l i e d t o each of t h o s e s e r v i c e s . Under the " K "

l icence p rov i s ion was made f o r f i v e s e r v i c e s e a c h w e e k day

and for two s e r v i c e s on each Saturday and Sunday. Two of the

w e e k d a y s e r v i c e s departed from Launceston an hour after a

coach was due t o a r r i v e from Hobart . Similar t imetabl ing

enab led pas senge r s f rom Hobar t t o con t inue t o Burn ie o r

Wynyard	on	the	Sa tu rday	or	S u n d a y	s e r v i c e s .	S i m i l a r
schedul ing	a l lowed	passengers	f rom	Burnie	on	some of	t h e

s e r v i c e s t o c o n n e c t w i t h s e r v i c e s t o H o b a r t . The e f f e c t of

the schedules was t h a t t h e coaches hould not depart from

specified towns between Launceston and Burnie before t h e

times	s p e c i f i e d	i n	t h e	t i m e t a b l e s .	Some	the	of	coaches
t rave l led	v ia	Kimber	ley	and	Rai l ton	while	o t h e r s	t r a v e l l e d
v i a F o r t h . l i c e n s e d c o a c h r o u t e s e r v i c e c o v e r i n g p a r t o f	One	s e r v i c e	was	i n	substance	p a r t	o f	a n o t h e r

t h e same r o u t e .

The Burn ie t o Wynyard s e c t i o n was l i m i t e d t o one s e rv i ce on

each w e e k day and on each Saturday to enable p a s s e n g e r s t o

t r a v e l on t h e 2 . 0 0 p.m. coach from Hobart t o Launceston and

t h e n	t o	Wynyard.	Under	t h e	"L"	l i c e n c e	p r o v i s i o n	was	made
fo r fou r Saturday	s e rv i ces	each	w e e k	day	and	f o r	two	s e r v i c e s on	each

and Sunday. Three of the w e e k day s e rv i ces , one o f

t h e S a t u r d a y connected w i t h services a t Launceston s e r v i c e s and e a c h o f t h e S u n d a y s e r v i c e s

for Hobart Timetable .

schedules had t h e same e f f e c t a s t h o s e i n t h e " K " l i c e n c e .

Under	a l l	l i c e n c e s ,	except	w i t h i n	t h e	suburban	a r e a s	o f
Hobar t	and	Launces ton ,	there	vas	no	res t r ic t ion	on	t h e

p ick ing up or p u t t i n g down of passengers or f r e i g h t . AS from

l A u g u s t 1 9 8 1 a new c o n d i t i o n was imposed i n r e l a t i o n - t o a l l

l i c e n c e s h e l d by the respondent . The c o n d i t i o n was a s

!

fo l lows:

!

"5 . The word 'Express' m u s t n o t be used i n

any adve r t i s emen t o f s e rv i ces , except i n

r e l a t i o n t o t h e 7 . 0 0 a.m. s e r v i c e from

Launceston t o Hobart and t h e 3 . 4 5 p.m.

s e r v i c e from Hobart t o Launceston."

The 3 . 4 5 p.m. serv ice f rom Hobar t to Launces ton had r ep laced

t h e prev ious 4 .00 p.m. s e r v i c e .

The p r e s e n t c a s e i n essence concerns t h e u s e of t h e

words "Express Service" i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e c o a c h s e r v i c e s

provided by the respondent p u r s u a n t t o t h e l i c e n c e s g r a n t e d

t o it. Compla in t s abou t r e l a t ed ma t t e r s were made a l s o .

During t h e hear ing much evidence was directed to whether the

a p p l i c a n t	as	well	as	t h e	respondent	p rovided	an	express
s e r v i c e ,	t h e n a t u r e o f	t h e	coaches	by	which	t h e	s e r v i c e s	were

provided and o the r aspects of comparison between t h e s e r v i c e s

provided by t h e a p p l i c a n t and t h e respondent , and t h e h i s t o r y

of t h e proceedings . in tense compet i t ion be tween them, i n c l u d i n g l e g a l

In t h e r e s u l t none t h o f ma t t e r s se a r e

r e l e v a n t t o t h e issues t o be decided i n t h i s a p p l i c a t i o n . No

f u r t h e r reference will be made t o t h a t e v i d e n c e .

The a p p l i c a n t b r i n g s these proceedings under t h e

T r a d e	P r a c t i c e s	Act	s e e k i n g	d a m a g e s	and	a n	i n j u n c t i o n
r e s t r a i n i n g	t h e	respondent	from	engaging	in	conduct	which

cont ravenes t h e p r o v i s i o n s of t h e Act.

T h e c o m p l a i n t s a r i s e out of a number of

a d v e r t i s e m e n t s	p u b l i s h e d	a t	t h e	i n s t r u c t i o n	of	t h e
respondent .	On	each Wednesday	and	Saturday	from	about

September 1980 about to August 1981 there appeared the

f o l l o w i n g c l a s s i f i e d a d v e r t i s e m e n t , h e r e i n a f t e r r e f e r r e d t o

as " t h e f i r s t adve r t i s emen t" , i n t h e "Advocate" newspaper:

n AAAA

TASMhNIAN REDLINE
COACHES
'EXPRESS

SERVICE'

Monday	t o F r i d a y D ' p o r t	-	L' ton	-	D'por t .
Depart ing	D-svonport	7 . 3 0	a.	a r r i v i n g	m.
Launceston	6.45	a.m.	w i t h	c o n t i n u i n g	s e r v i c e

through t o H o b a r t , a r r i v i n g 1 2 midday. Depart

Launceston 5.15 p.m. a r r i v i n g Devonport 6 .30

w i t h 2 p.m. c o n n e c t i n g s e r v i c e from Hobart.

Devonport - Hobart Monday to Friday.

7.30 a,m., 10.40 a.m., 3.15 p.m. 7.30 p.m.

(L'ton only). Sat 10.45 a.m., 3.15 p.m.	(L'ton
only) . Burnie - Hobart Monday to Friday.
9.15 a.m. - 2 p.m., 6.30 p.m.	(L'ton only).
Sat. 9.15 a.m. , 2 p.m.	(L'ton only).

Sun. 10 a.m. and 4.30 p.m."

Thereafter the advertisement specified some of the fares

charged, an invitation to the public to make enquiries of the

respondent and the addresses and telephone numbers of a

-

number of depots conducted. The applicant complains that

*

none of the services referred to	in the first advertisement
were express services and	that the timetables referred to

were not adhered to by the respondent.

i On each Wednesday and Saturday from about September

1980 to the date of issue of the application, November 1981,

there appeared the following classified advertisement,

!	'	hereinafter referred to as "the second advertisement" in the
"Advocate" newspaper:

n AAAAAA

TASMANIAN REDLINE

COACHES

BURNIE

ULVERSTONE
DEVONPORT

LAUNCESTON

HOBART

7 days a week.

.

I

- 9 -

*WE NEVER STOP*

COMPARE OUR PRICES

Burnie to Launceston $9.50 Launceston to Hobart $9.70

50% discount for pensioners.

All central city depots for convenience."

Thereafter the advertisement gave the addresses and telephone numbers of a number of the respondent's depots. The applicant complains that the second advertisement constituted

a statement that the services were express services when in

fact they were not.

From about September 1980, the respondent published

and distributed a timetable with effect from 1 September

1980. One hereinafter referred to as "the third advertisement" was as
follows: of the services set out in the timetable,

" E-X-P-R-E-S-S

DEVONPORT-LAUNCESTON

I

DEPART DEVONPORT:

Monday to Friday - 1 . 3 0 am (Through

service to Hobart)

DEPART LAUNCESTON:

Monday to Friday - 5.15 pm (2 pm ex Hbt.

connects	with
E.O.A.)"

-_

.

- 10 -

The	a p p l i c a n t	c o m p l a i n s	t h a t	t h o s e	s e r v i c e s	were	n o t	e x p r e s s
s e z v i c e s .	Other	s e r v i c e s	were	a l s o	r e f e r r e d	t o	i n	t h e

timetable b u t r e f e r e n c e need be made t o three of them only.

Apar t f rom those re fe r red to in t h e t h i r d adver t i sement , t h e

t ime tab le se t o u t t h e s e r v i c e s on t h e Launceston-Burnie route

w i t h n o t i f i c a t i o n of t h e v a r i a t i o n i n t h o s e s e r v i c e s i n

accordance w i t h t h e s c h e d u l e s t o t h e l i c e n c e a n d a l s o t h e

Launceston-Hobart route , together w i t h c o n n e c t i n g s e r v i c e s t o

B u r n i e and Wynyard. There was a s e p a r a t e a d v e r t i s e m e n t f o r

t h e	t w o	L a u n c e s t o n - H o b a r t	s e r v i c e s	w h i c h	had	no	times
s p e c i f i e d	between	Hobart	and	Launceston.	Those	two	daily

s e r v i c e s were a d v e r t i s e d as fo l lows:

E-X-P-R-E-S-S

LAUNCESTON-HOBART

DEPART LAUNCESTON:

Monday F r i d a y t o - 7.00 am

DEPART HOBART:

l

Monday F r i d a y t o - 4 . 0 0 pm"

The a p p l i c a n t makes no complaint i n r e l a t i o n t o t h i s .

I

The respondent adver t i sed i n t h e "Yellow Pages" i n

each of Southern t h e 1 9 8 0 and 1981 t e l e p h o n e d i r e c t o r i e s f o r t h e

Tasmania, North and Northwestern Tasmania and North

West and West Coas t Tasmania a reas respec t ive ly . These

adver t i sements	are	her<inaf te r	referred	t o as	" t h e	f o u r t h
a d v e r t i s e m e n t " .	I n	t h o s	o n e	d i r e c t o r i e s	f	t h e
adve r t i s emen t con ta ins	t h e	words:

"Tasmanian Redl ine Coaches Statevide Charter

E x p r e s s P a s s e n g e r & P a r c e l S r v i c e s

Throughout Tasmania

Connecting A l l Areas. "

The o t h e r f i v e a d v e r t i s e m e n t s c o n t a i n t h e words:

"Tasmanian R e d l i n e Coaches

Express Passenger & Parcel S e r v i c e s

Covering Tasmania."

-

The	app l i can t	compla ins	t h a t	t h e	s e r v i c e s	p r o v i d e d	by	t h e
r e sponden t	a r e	no t	express	s e r v i c e s	and	t h a t	t h e	respondent

d o e s n o t p r o v i d e s e r v i c e s t o a l l par t s of Tasmania .

! The a p p l i c a n t re l ies upon s e c t i o n s 52(1), 5 3 ( a a )

and 55A. Under s e c t i o n 52(1) a c o r p o r a t i o n s h a l l n o t , i n

t r a d e o r commerce, engage i n c o n d u c t h a t is misleading o r

decep t ive o r is l i k e l y t o mislead o r dece ive . Under s e c t i o n

5 3 ( a a ) , a c o r p o r a t i o n s h a l l n o t , i n t r a d e o r commerce, i n

connexion wi th the supply o r poss ib le supply of s e r v i c e s or

i n connexion w i t h t h e prcmotion of t h e supp ly o f s e rv i ces

f a l s e l y r e p r e s e n t t h a t s e r v i c e s a r e of a p a r t i c u l a r standard,

q u a l i t y or grade . Under s e c t i o n 55A, a c o r p o r a t i o n s h a l l

n o t ,	i n trade o r commerce,	engage	in	conduc t	t h a t	is	l i a b l e
to mislead	t h e p u b l i c	a s	t o	t h e	n a t u r e ,	t h e	c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s

o r t h e q u a l i t y of any s e rv i ces . The a p p l i c a n t c o n t e n d s t h a t

t h e f o u r conduct by the a d v e r t i s e m e n t s a l r e a d y r e f e r r e d t o c o n s t i t u t e

respondent which contravenes each of t h e s e

p rov i s ions .

The respondent i s a c o r p o r a t i o n unde r t h e Act. I n

provid ing	the	coach	se rv ices	i n Tasmania	i t	is engaging	i n
t r a d e	o r	commerce	under	t h e Act.	The	conduct common	t o each

of t h e four s e c t i o n s is advert isements which is a l l e g e d t o c o n t r a v e n e t h e

a statement t h a t t h e c o a c h s e r v i c e s a r e e x p r e s s

s e r v i c e s . Under s e c t i o n 52 i t is f o r t h e C o u r t t o d e c i d e

whether par t icu lar conduct i s mis l ead ing o r decep t ive o r is

! l i k e l y t o mislead o r dece ive hav ing r ega rd t o t he t ype of

p e r s o n l i k e l y t o be exposed t o t h a t c o n d u c t . I n t h e p r e s e n t

ca se , t he t ype of p e r s o n l i k e l y t o be exposed t o t h e conduct

is a member of t h e p u b l i c who may be d e s i r i n g t o t r a v e l

between Burnie and Hobart, Hobart and Burnie or any places i n

between. T h e r e i s n o e v i d e n c e t h a t a n y p e r s o n h a s i n f a c t

been mislead or dece ived b u t t h a t is not conc lus ive one way

o r ano the r . The ex is tence o f such ev idence l ikewise i s n o t

conclus ive . T h i s is a q u e s t i o n t o be decided by t h e Court

hav ing r ega rd p rac t i ca l t o cons ide ra t ions . I t cannot be

decided i n t h e a b s t r a c t . I t should no t be decided on t o o

narrow a ground. I t should no t be decided upon any s t r i c t l y

l e g a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n or cons t ruc t ion o f words and phrases , b u t

on t h e b a s i s o f how t h e conduct would be understood by t h e

t y p e o f a p p r o a c h e s p e r s o n l i k e l y t o be exposed t o i t . S i m i l a r

a r e t o be adopted w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e o b l i g a t i o n s

imposed on c o r p o r a t i o n s by t h e o t h e r two s e c t i o n s o f t h e Act

and a l l eged con t r aven t ions the reo f .

A s a f i r s t step it is necessary to de te rmine what

is meant by the words "Expres s Se rv ice" appea r ing i n the

f i r s t	a d v e r t i s e m e n t ,	h e	word	"Express"	appearing	in	t h e
t h i r d	advert isement ,	and	the	words	"Express	Passenger	&

P a r c e l S e r v i c e " o r " E x p r e s s P a s s e n g e r & P a r c e l S e r v i c e s "

appearing i n the f o u r t h a d v e r t i s e m e n t . The words m u s t be

cons t rued i n t h e c o n t e x t i n which they are used , namely w i t h

r e s p e c t	t o	c o a c h	s e r v i c e s	p r o v i d e d	by	the	r	spondent	i n
accordance	w i t h	l i c e n c e s	g r a n t e d	t o	i t .	I n	t h e	course	of

submissions, counsel referred t o t h e d i c t i o n a r y m e a n i n g s t o

be g i v e n ev idence as t o t h e word "Expres s" . In add i t ion , w i tnes ses gave

t o what they understood was meant by t h e word

"Express", b u t I f i n d t h a t t h a t ev idence is n o t h e l p f u l i n

d e t e r m i n i n g t h e q u e s t i o n b e f o r e t h e C o u r t . T h e word

"Express" has many d i f f e r e n t m e a n i n g s assigned t o i t i n t h e

v a r i o u s d i c t i o n a r i e s referred t o i n t h e course o f

submissions. Many of those meanings obviously have no

bear ing	on	t h e	p r e s e n t	q u e s t i o n .	I n	t h e	present	c a s e	t h e
words	form	part	of	t h e composite	phrase	u s e d	i n	r e l a t i o n	t o

t h e c a r r i a g e o f passengers or f r e i g h t between specif ied

p o i n t s . The m o s t h e l p f u l d e f i n i t i o n appears i n t h e Oxford

Eng l i sh D ic t iona ry , "Spec ia l ly des igned o r i n t ended fo r a

pa r t i cu la r	ob jec t ;	done ,	made ,	or	sen t	' on	pu rpose . '	... b.
Express	T r a i n .	O r i g i n a l l y	=	'special	t r a i n ' ;	b u t	about	1845

P

applied t o a t r a i n r u n n i n g ' e x p r e s s l y ' f o r t h e conveyance of

p a s s e n g e r s t o o n e p a r t i c u l a r p l a c e and n o t s t o p p i n g a t t h e

i n t e r m e d i a t e	s t a t i o n s ;	now,	a	t r a i n running	a t a	h i g h	r a t e
of speed, and	s topping	only	a t	a	few	i m p o r t a n t	s t a t i o n s . "
T h i s d e f i n i t i o n	and	example	i s ,	i n my	op in ion ,	t he	c o r r e c t

meaning t o be g i v e n t o t h e re levant words appear ing in the

th ree adve r t i s emen t s . They a r e used i n r e l a t i o n t o c o a c h

serv ices be tween specified towns. The words a r e t o be

understood as meaning not only a f a s t s e r v i c e by coach b u t

a l s o f e w s t o p s t o p i c k up o r p u t down passengers or f r e i g h t

v

between the commencing and t e rmina t ing po in t s o f t h e s e r v i c e .

T h i s i s t h e meaning i n which t h e words would be understood by

persons exposed to t he adver t i sements . I t is a meaning which

is p r a c t i c a l and i s t o be compared with another type of coach

s e r v i c e a t which s t o p s a r e t o be expected a t numerous p o i n t s

between the commencing and t e rmina t ing po in t s o f t h e s e r v i c e .

The l a t t e r s e r v i c e s may be f a s t , having regard to speed

l limits i m p o s e d b y t r a f f i c r e g u l a t i o n s , b u t i t i s t h e

requirement of being a t i n t e r m e d i a t e p o i n t s a t s p e c i f i c times

for the pu rposes of enab l ing members of t h e p u b l i c t o b o a r d

o r t o disembark from the coach w h i c h i l l u s t r a t e s t h e v i t a l

d i f f e r e n c e	b e t w e e n	a n	e x p r e s s	e r v i c e	and	a	non-express
s e r v i c e .

I n o r d e r t o a p p l y t h e meaning of t h e words used t o

t h e se rv i ces p rov ided by t h e respondent , i t is n e c e s s a r y t o

refer t o t h e t i m e t a b l e schedu les a t t a c h e d t o t h e l i c e n c e s .

.

- 15 -

The 7 .00 a.m. service Launceston to Hobart and t h e 3.45 p.m.

o r 4.00 p.m. serv ice Hobar t o Launces ton can be described

t r u l y a s e x p r e s s e r v i c e s . A l t h o u g h on thase s e r v i c e s the

coach is a b l e l a w f u l l y t o s t o p t o a l l o w p a s s e n g e r s t o embark

o r d i s e m b a r k , t h a t i s t h e except ion . The s e r v i c e is designed

on t h e b a s i s t h a t a n y s u c h s t o p would cons t i t u t e an unusua l

departure from the norm. I n f a c t , t h e time s p e c i f i e d i n t h e

schedules f o r the complet ion o€ t h o s e s e r v i c e s is less than

t h e time specified for	the	o	ther	se rv ices	be	tween	Launces	tcn
and	Hobart	where	i n t e r m e d i a t e	s t o p s	a r e	n o r m a l l y	t o	be
expected	and	allowances	made	f o r	t h o s e	s t o p s .	T h e	s e r v i c e s

between Launceston and Burnie and t h e non-express e rv ices

between Launceston and Hobart do not come w i t h i n t h e meaning

of t h e words "Express", "Express Service" , "Express Passenger

& Parcel Serv ice" o r "Express Passenger & Parcel Se rv ices" .

Under t h o s e s e r v i c e s , s c h e d u l e d s t o p s are s p e c i f i e d i n t h e

timetables and the coach should not depar t f rom t h e s p e c i f i e d

places b e f o r e t h e s p e c i f i e d times. I t i s i m m a t e r i a l t h a t t h e

coach may n o t s t o p a t t h e s p e c i f i e d places i f there is no

p a s s e n g e r s e e k i n g t o b o a r d t h e c o a c h o r n o p a s s e n g e r

disembarking. Under t h e licences, r e s t r i c t i o n s a r e p l a c e d on

.	t h e
n a t u r e Devonport o f t h e coach se rv ice . Even on t h e s h o r t e r o u t e

to Launces ton intermediate p laces and times have

b e e n s p e c i f i e d	t h e r e b y r e s t r i c t i n g	t h e	progress of	the	coach.
None	of	these	s e r v i c e s c o n s t i t u t e	express	s e r v i c e s .

. - .

This view of the meaning to be given to the words "Express" or "Express Service" is supported	by the condition
"5." imposed by the	licences issued to the respondent and

operating as from August 19.91. That condition recognises

that apart from the services specified in the condition, the

other services provided	by the respondent are	not express
services. Likewise, the timetable	in which the	third

advertisement appears di-aws	a clear, and in my opinion valid,
-	distinction between the express services between Launceston

i and Hobart and the non-express services between those two
cities.

In the light of the meaning to be given to the

relevant words in the three advertisements it becomes

necessary to consider whether the statements contained in the four advertisements contravene any of the provisions of the Act.

The first advertisement refers to the

Devonport-Launceston-Devonport service with connecting

services to Hobart. Insofar as the words "Express Service" are used, they have the effect of conveying to the relevant members of the public that each of those serviccs is an

express service in the sense already discussed. To that

extent the advertisements constitute conduct which is

misleading or deceptive or is likely to mislead or deceive

contrary to section 52 of the Act, since those services are

not express services. Likewise, the first advertisement

constitutes a contravention by the respondent of section

53(aa) and section 55A of the Act.

In the second advertisement the words complained of

are "We Never Stop".	I reject the contention that those
words mean, or would be understood	to mean, that the services

are express services. Of necessity the services must stop if
only at the end of the journey. The respondent provides its
services seven days a week and fifty-two weeks a year. The

applicant provides its services five days a week only. In

the context of the advertisement and the factual situation, the words "We Never Stop" refer to this aspect of the service

and not to express services. The statements contained in the
second advertisement do not constitute a contravention of the

Act by the respondent.

For reasons similar to those applicable to the

first advertisement, the words "Express" appearing in the
third advertisement constitute conduct by the respondent	in
contravention of the three provisions	of the Act.

One further factor is relevant to the consideration

of the fourth advertisement. All the relevant licences held

5.

by the respondent were in evidence before the Court. Apart

from the express services between Hobart and Launceston, n m e

of t h e services conducted by the r spondent cons t i tu ted

expres s s e rv i ces . Fo r r ea sons similar t o t h o s e a p p l i c a b l e t o

t h e f i r s t advert isement , the words "Express ... Serv ices"

appearing i n t h e f o u r t h a d v e r t i s e m e n t cons t i t u t e conduct by

t h e	respondent	i n	c o n t r a v e n t i o n	s f	t h e	t h r e e	p r o v i s i o n s	of
the	Act.

The o the r compla in t s are now considered. I n t h e

f i r s t adver t i sement i t is s t a t e d t h a t t h e 7.30 a.m. s e r v i c e

- from Devonport connects wi th a s e rv i ce " th rough t o Hobar t ,

a r r i v i n g a t 1 2 midday". I n fac t t h e t i m e t a b l e s show t h a t t h e

scheduled time of a r r i v a l a t Hobart is e i t h e r 12.45 p.m. o r ,

as from a l a t e r d a t e , 1 2 . 1 5 p.m. To t h a t e x t e n t t h e f i r s t

a d v e r t i s e m e n t	t e c h n i c a l l y	c o n s t i t u t e s	c o n d u c t	b y	t h e
r e sponden t wh ich con t r avenes	the	th ree sec t ions	of	t h e	Act.

I n t h e f o u r t h a d v e r t i s e m e n t i t is s t a t e d t h a t t h e

s e r v i c e s	p r o v i d e d	b y	t h e	r e s p o n d e n t	c o n n e c t	a l l	a r e a s
throughout	Tasmania	or cover	Tasmania.	I n	f ac t ,	t h e	r o u t e s

o v e r w h i c h t h e r e s p o n d e n t i s l i c e n s e d t o c o n d u c t i t s

services,	a l though	ve ry	ex tens ive ,	do	n o t	connect	a l l a r e a s
th roughou t	Tasman ia	nor	t h e y	d o	c o v e r	t h e	S t a t e .

Never the less , by a r rangement wi th o ther coachl ine opera tors ,

on r e q u e s t by a p rospec t ive pas senge r or pe r son s eek ing t o

despa tch f r e igh t , t he r e sponden t is a b l e t o a r r a n g e c e a c h

1          .

I .  

. .

i - 1 9 -

I	t ravel	throughout	Tasmania.	The	r e l e v a n t	statements	i n	t h e
I

f o u r t h a d v e x t i s e m e n t i n t h i s r e g a r d o n o t c o n s t i t u t e

cont ravent ions of t h e Act by the respondent .

I n t h e result , t h e s t a t e m e n t s i n three o f t he

a d v e r t i s e m e n t s c o n s t i t u t e c o n d u c t b y t h e r e s p o n d e n t i n

cont ravent ion of the Act i n s o f a r a s t h e y r e f e r t o express

s e r v i c e s ,	w h i l e	t h e	s t a t e m e n t	r e f e r r i n g	t oh e	time	of
a r r i v a l	a t	H o b a r t	i n	t h e	t h i r d	a d v e r t i s e m e n t	c o n s t i t u t e s

i :	conduct	by	t h e	r e sponden t	i n	con t r aven t ion	o f	t h e	Act.	I n
1	I .

August 1981 t h e respondent ceased to use the o f fending words

appearing i n t h e f i r s t and t h i r d adver t i sements .

A t t h e request o f t h e p a r t i e s , t h e Court permitted

t h e	a p p l i c a n t	o	p resent	i t s	case	o n	l i a b i l i t y	b e f o r e
e n t e r i n g	i n t o	i ts case o n	t h e	n a t u r e	of	t h e	r e l i e f	s o u g h t .
Af t e r	pub l i sh ing	t hese	r easons	fo r	j udgmen t	on	l i a b i l i t y	t h e
f u r t h e r	h e a r i n g	of	t h e	a p p l i c a t i o n	is	a j o u r n e d	t o	a date t o

be f i x e d . There will be l i b e r t y t o a p p l y .