The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has extended the timeframe for making a final decision on ihail’s application for authorisation after receiving a submission from ihail proposing changes to how its smartphone taxi booking app will operate.
The ACCC now invites comment on the revised ihail arrangements by 8 December 2015 and expects to issue a final decision in February/March 2016. ihail agreed to the extension.
ihail’s submission responds to the draft decision issued by the ACCC on 12 October 2015. The draft decision proposed to deny authorisation to the ihail joint venture arrangements between Australian and international taxi networks and other participants in the taxi industry to launch and operate the new smartphone taxi booking app.
Further information, including a copy of the ACCC’s draft decision and ihail’s latest submission, is available from the ACCC’s public register.
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.