The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has granted authorisation* to the Australian Medical Association** for a collective bargaining arrangement until 28 February 2014.
The AMA sought authorisation to collectively negotiate with relevant state/territory health departments the terms of contracts, including fees, for rural general practitioners providing services as Visiting Medical Officers in public hospitals and health facilities in rural and remote areas of Australia (except New South Wales).
"AMA general practitioner members will have the opportunity to engage in collective bargaining with health departments to establish the terms and conditions of VMO contracts in public hospitals in rural and remote areas," ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today.
"A single negotiation process through collective bargaining may offer a more efficient and informed bargaining process, relative to a situation where multiple negotiation processes are necessary.
"The ACCC considers that state/territory health departments and the AMA would only enter into an agreement if it is mutually beneficial to both state/territory health departments and AMA members. The ACCC notes that participation in the collective negotiations is voluntary for both state/territory health departments and AMA members.
"The authorisation does not extend to collective boycott activity. If such conduct did occur the ACCC would investigate."
The ACCC previously granted authorisation to the Rural Doctors Association of Australia for similar collective bargaining arrangements and AMA (NSW) for arrangements that apply in NSW.
The ACCC's final determination will be available by following the Public Registers and Authorisations Registers links on the ACCC's website.
For media inquiries to the ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, please call Ms Lin Enright, ACCC Media, on (02) 6243 1108 or 0414 613 520.
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*Authorisation provides immunity from court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974. Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment. The ACCC conducts a comprehensive public consultation process and issues a draft determination before making a decision to grant or deny authorisation.
** The application was lodged by the Australian Medical Association Limited (AMA) and its state/territory AMA organisations in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania.
