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ARTICLE · 19 AUGUST 2026

Attempt Is Enough: Record Personal Penalty Signals ACCC’s Zero Tolerance For Cartel Conduct

Cooper Grace Ward
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The Federal Court has imposed a record $1 million personal fine on an executive for attempting to induce competitors into cartel arrangements in the oil and gas services industry, despite all five attempts failing. The Court also issued a non-indemnification order preventing the executive from using insurance or company funds to pay the penalty, marking a significant escalation in competition law enforcement.

AustraliaAntitrust/Competition Law
David Grace
David Grace
Francesca Jones
Francesca Jones
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On 26 March 2026, the Federal Court issued its final determination (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Qteq Pty Ltd [2025] FCA 371) against Qteq Pty Ltd. It fined Qteq $5 million and its then executive chairman, Simon Ashton, $1 million personally for attempting to induce competitors in the oil and gas services industry to enter into cartel arrangements. All five attempts, made between 2017 and 2019, failed because the other parties refused to participate.

Mr Simon Ashton’s $1 million penalty is the highest personal fine the Federal Court has ever ordered for a competition law breach under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) (CCA). The Court went a step further and made a non-indemnification order that prevents Mr Ashton from drawing on insurance or company funds to cover it.

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