Glenn Owbridge PSM
For outstanding public service through Commonwealth legal work and in contributing to the advancement of competition and consumer law, particularly as lead solicitor in the Air Cargo series of litigation matters, Glenn Owbridge was awarded the Public Service Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
Glenn has worked tirelessly in the public interest throughout his 30 years' distinguished career, conducting the most complex competition and consumer law litigation, to ensure the Commonwealth's case is put at its best in litigation, and that the legislative goals of promoting competition and protecting consumers are enforced and upheld.
He has also skilfully used alternative dispute resolution and negotiations to achieve efficient and cost-effective outcomes in the public interest.
He has helped to shape the development of competition and consumer law through the outcomes achieved in the matters he has conducted over his career. Mr Owbridge has obtained novel relief in cases to protect the public interest, including the first banning orders under the (then) Trade Practices Act 1974, consumer redress and refunds, freezing orders, publication orders ensuring misinformation to consumers is corrected, bringing contempt proceedings to enforce compliance with Federal Court orders, and obtaining urgent interlocutory relief when required to protect the public.
He has also achieved ground-breaking outcomes in competition law matters, including the highest civil penalties imposed on cartel conduct in Australia to date, in the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's largest cartel proceedings. These outcomes have helped to deter cartel operations and to protect Australian consumers.