R v Associated Northern Collieries


R v Associated Northern Collieries is a decision of the High Court of Australia concerning the activities of the Coal-Vend cartel. The convictions entered by Isaacs J in this decision were later set aside by the Full Court in Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd v The King.

Decision

Following a trial in the original jurisdiction of the High Court, Isaacs J convicted each of the 40 defendants of cartel offences against the Australian Industries Preservation Act, a antitrust law based on the United States' Sherman Act.

Political context

The trial was eagerly followed in the news media. Newspapers such as the Sydney Morning Herald regularly reported on the daily course of the trial.