Ronan & Anor v ANZ Banking Group Ltd & Anor

The applicants, Ronan and another, brought proceedings against ANZ Banking Group Ltd and another respondent. The dispute concerned allegations of misleading and deceptive conduct in contravention of the *Trade Practices Act 1974* (Cth) and the *Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001* (Cth). The matter came before the High Court of Australia.

The primary legal issue before the High Court was whether the applicants had established a contravention of the relevant provisions of the *Trade Practices Act* and the *ASIC Act*. Specifically, the court was required to determine whether the conduct of the respondents in relation to certain financial products amounted to misleading or deceptive conduct, and if so, whether the applicants had suffered loss or damage as a consequence.

The High Court considered the nature of the representations made by the respondents and whether, in all the circumstances, those representations were likely to mislead or deceive a reasonable person in the position of the applicants. The court applied established principles regarding misleading and deceptive conduct, focusing on the objective assessment of the representations and their potential impact on consumers. The court also examined the causal link between any contravening conduct and the loss or damage claimed by the applicants. The High Court found that the applicants had not established a contravention of the *Trade Practices Act* or the *ASIC Act* and therefore dismissed the appeal.