The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission proposes to allow the continuation of an industry agreement that imposes a levy on the sale of clay bricks and concrete masonry products.
The levies are used to fund a national program designed to alleviate shortages of skilled bricklayers.
The ACCC's proposed decision will allow the Australian Brick & Blocklaying Training Foundation, Think Brick Australia and the Concrete Masonry Association of Australia to continue to impose a levy of $2 per 1,000 clay bricks and 10 cents per square metre on concrete masonry walling products sold in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, SA, WA, Tasmania and ACT.
The proposed levy would add $16 to the cost of an average home.
"The ACCC considers that by creating apprenticeship opportunities and providing subsidises for employers of apprentice bricklayers, this program is working to increase the number of skilled bricklayers and reduce delays in construction times," ACCC Chairman, Graeme Samuel said.
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's draft determination will be available from the ACCC website, via the Public register and Authorisations and notifications registers links.
The ACCC invites submissions from interested parties in relation to the draft determination before making its final decision. Parties wishing to make submissions should do so by July 29 2009. Please refer to the website for further information about making a submission to the ACCC.