Bunnings rival wins costs protection in Australian market-power lawsuit
( August 27, 2026, 01:44 GMT | Official Statement) -- MLex Summary: Woodman Beenleigh, which operates two Mitre 10 hardware stores in Brisbane, has won Federal Court of Australia protection from having to pay Bunnings’ legal costs if it loses its misuse-of-market-power case challenging Bunnings’ planned Jimboomba store. Judge Robert Bromwich on Thursday found the case raises reasonable issues for trial under Section 46 of the 2010 Competition and Consumer Act, including whether Bunnings’ expansion could substantially lessen competition by causing the nearby Mitre 10 to exit without needing to find that Woodman is likely to succeed. The court said the case could have broader significance for independent hardware retailers facing Bunnings expansions and found the large financial disparity between the companies contributes to the risk that an adverse costs order would deter Woodman from continuing the case.Judgment attached....
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