(b) That's not right. In Australian law a duty of care can arise in relation to negligent misstatements, such as giving wrong information or advice, which the plaintiff has relied on and suffered economic loss as a result. But the duty of care only arises if, in the circumstances, the speaker should have realised that they were being relied on to give accurate information or advice on the basis of which the other party might act; and it was reasonable for the plaintiff to have relied on that information or advice. The courts have held that it is not reasonable to rely on information or advice that is given informally, such as on the telephone. In this case, the advice is clearly given in very informal circumstances and could not reasonably be relied on. It is different if information or advice is given more formally, such as in writing.