The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has granted interim authorisation to the Victorian Association of Newsagents (VANA) to allow it and its members to collectively bargain with Tatts and Intralot.
Many of VANA’s member newsagents sell Tatts and Intralot lottery products. VANA is seeking authorisation to collectively bargain with Tatts and Intralot in relation to the terms and conditions of lottery products sales agency agreements and arrangments, on their behalf.
The ACCC has previously authorised similar collective bargaining arrangements for lottery agents including newsagents in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Queensland.
The ACCC has also previously authorised the Lottery Agents Association of Victoria (LAAV) to collectively bargain with Tatts and Intralot on behalf of its members.
“The ACCC considers that granting interim authorisation will provide Victorian newsagents with a choice of which bargaining group, LAAV or VANA, they would like to potentially represent them in negotiations with Tatts and Intralot,” ACCC Deputy Chair Dr Michael Schaper said.
Interim authorisation commences immediately and will remain in place until the date that the ACCC's final determination comes into effect or is revoked.
The granting of interim authorisation in no way binds the ACCC in its consideration of the substantive application for authorisation.
Authorisation provides statutory protection 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. Interim authorisation allows the parties to engage in the conduct prior to the ACCC considering the substantive merits of the application.