Price fixing lands steel giant in court

One of Australia’s largest companies tried to fix pricing agreements with its competitors to illegally boost the price of flat steel, the Federal Court has found.

BlueScope and its former general manager Jason Ellis were found by the court to have engaged in the illegal behaviour after the consumer watchdog launched civil cartel proceedings against it.

The court found between September 2013 and June 2014, BlueScope and Mr Ellis tried to induce eight Australian steel distributors and an overseas manufacturer to agree to fix or raise the level of pricing for flat steel products.