The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission instituted proceedings against 56 companies and individuals in the Queensland fire protection industry, alleging they had entered into a number of anti-competitive agreements over a period of several years.
The ACCC has made allegations of price fixing and market sharing conduct.
The companies involved in the alleged conduct range from large multinational corporations to local Queensland-based operations. The conduct allegedly affected the sprinkler installation market in Queensland and the alarm installation market in south-east Queensland.
After an extensive investigation, the ACCC alleges that participants in the markets for the installation of fire alarms and sprinklers had held regular meetings at which price fixing and market sharing arrangements were made.
The ACCC alleges that at regular meetings at a number of hotels and sporting clubs around Brisbane, representatives of the companies would reach agreement as to which of them would "win" particular contracts let to tender for the installation of fire alarm or sprinkler systems. It is alleged that separate sets of meetings were held in relation to fire alarm system installations and fire sprinkler system installations. The meetings in relation to the sprinkler installation market were known among participants as "the Coffee Club".
Fire alarm systems or sprinkler systems are required in buildings such residential apartments, high rise buildings, warehouses, supermarkets, factories, hospitals, schools, shopping centres, cinemas and nursing homes.
Many parties have cooperated fully with the ACCC in its investigation. Some parties have reached agreement on the orders to be recommended to the Court and others are in the process of doing so. A directions hearing for the matter has been set down for 14 December 1999 in the Federal Court, Brisbane.
The ACCC has made allegations of price fixing and market sharing conduct.
The companies involved in the alleged conduct range from large multinational corporations to local Queensland-based operations. The conduct allegedly affected the sprinkler installation market in Queensland and the alarm installation market in south-east Queensland.
After an extensive investigation, the ACCC alleges that participants in the markets for the installation of fire alarms and sprinklers had held regular meetings at which price fixing and market sharing arrangements were made.
The ACCC alleges that at regular meetings at a number of hotels and sporting clubs around Brisbane, representatives of the companies would reach agreement as to which of them would "win" particular contracts let to tender for the installation of fire alarm or sprinkler systems. It is alleged that separate sets of meetings were held in relation to fire alarm system installations and fire sprinkler system installations. The meetings in relation to the sprinkler installation market were known among participants as "the Coffee Club".
Fire alarm systems or sprinkler systems are required in buildings such residential apartments, high rise buildings, warehouses, supermarkets, factories, hospitals, schools, shopping centres, cinemas and nursing homes.
Many parties have cooperated fully with the ACCC in its investigation. Some parties have reached agreement on the orders to be recommended to the Court and others are in the process of doing so. A directions hearing for the matter has been set down for 14 December 1999 in the Federal Court, Brisbane.