Melbourne talkback radio host and social commentator Derryn Hinch quipped at the time, "You can get a screw on Sunday but you can't get a screwdriver.
", in reference to the fact that the Victorian government was legalising prostitution at the same time they were enforcing the weekend trading laws with particular attention to hardware stores.
Officers from the department of Labour and Industry repeatedly fined Penhalluriack for his breaches of the law, and the whole issue gained considerable local media attention.
The conflict continued, and a frustrated Magistrate refused Penhalluriack's request for an adjournment, and fined him $501,000 for his failure to close his business on 21 occasions.
It was out of time, but accepted by the Industrial Court of Victoria, The President was the only person to hear such appeals, and on day three he was seen sharing a tea break with some of the Department's Inspectors – who were witnesses in the case.
The President refused to step down, and subsequently became quite ill. After he recovered he recommenced the case, and immediately declared a conflict of interest over the "tea party".
His attempt to serve a subpoena on then premier John Cain at a public appearance led to a scuffle with a yelling crowd of about 30 Right to Life demonstrators.
He also served the Premier with a birthday cake, walking into a press conference with his friend and hardware storekeeper Bob Wolstenholme.
[2] Penhalluriack continued to flout trading laws, opening his hardware store on Easter Sunday in 2005, under threat of a $10,000 fine.
"I would be ashamed to put up for sale the rubbish that is in the Council's bin," he said, "where the material at the back has remained undisturbed for over twelve months.
[6] The tabling in Parliament of the Ombudsman's Report did considerable harm to Penhalluriack's reputation, and contributed to the loss of his seat at the 2012 council election.
[9] Penhalluriack refused to attend an informal hearing into allegations that he bullied the CEO, describing the proceedings as a "kangaroo court".
Penhalluriack made various counter-claims against the council, including a workplace insurance claim and stress levels causing him cardiac problems.