The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has decided to allow the Central Queensland Local Government Association to conduct a regional tender for the provision of green waste mulching services.
The CQLGA acts on behalf of its five member councils, the Regional Councils of Banana Shire, Rockhampton, Central Highlands, Gladstone and Isaac.
The proposed arrangements are designed to address problems the councils have encountered in attracting green waste mulching services to the regional areas of Central Queensland and securing cost-effective individual green waste contracts.
"The ACCC considers the authorised arrangements are likely to enable the CQLGA's member councils to negotiate more cost effective green waste contracts, which would result in benefits for their communities," acting ACCC chairman Michael Schaper said.
The ACCC notes that this application was made before the current flood crisis and relates to long term arrangements in Central Queensland. As a result, the ACCC has granted authorisation for five years.
Authorisation provides immunity from court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. 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 ACCC's determination will be available from the ACCC website at www.accc.gov.au/AuthorisationsRegister.