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Belle Gibson could face a $1.1million penalty for lying to consumers.

 

Disgraced health personality Belle Gibson is facing a potential court-imposed penalty of up to $1.1 million after lying to consumers.

Consumer Affairs Victoria’s legal counsel told the Federal Court on Thursday the maximum penalty of $1.1 million applies if the court accepts Gibson made five contraventions of consumer laws.

Gibson claimed she had brain cancer, healed herself with natural remedies and lied to consumers about donating to charities from the sales of her Whole Pantry app.

She has been banned from making deceptive claims about her health in connection with wellbeing advice and was ordered by the Federal Court in April to pay $30,000 towards the legal costs of Consumer Affairs Victoria.

On Thursday, Justice Debra Mortimer reserved her decision on penalties for the businesswoman.

Justice Mortimer said she had no evidence on Gibson’s financial position as she had not participated in any court hearings, and as such would not be imposing a penalty on that basis.

“I’m not aware of any case where this level of non participation has occurred,” she said.

The judge said CAV’s request that Gibson publicly apologise was problematic as there was also no evidence she was actually sorry.