The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a draft determination proposing to authorise* a collective bargaining arrangement put forward by the Australian Medical Association** for five years and invites submissions.
The AMA seeks authorisation to collectively negotiate with relevant state/territory health departments the terms of contracts, including fees, for rural general practitioners providing services as Visiting Medical Officers in public hospitals and health facilities in rural and remote areas of Australia (except New South Wales).
"The proposed arrangements will give AMA general practitioner members the opportunity to engage in collective bargaining with health departments to establish the terms and conditions of VMO contracts in public hospitals in rural and remote areas," ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today.
"A single negotiation process through collective bargaining may offer a more efficient and informed bargaining process, relative to a situation where multiple negotiation processes are necessary.
"Participation in collective negotiations is voluntary for both state/territory health departments and AMA members.
"The ACCC considers that state/territory health departments and the AMA would only enter into an agreement if it is mutually beneficial to both state/territory health departments and AMA members.
"The proposed authorisation does not extend to collective boycott activity. If such conduct did occur the ACCC would investigate."
The ACCC previously granted authorisation to the Rural Doctors Association of Australia for similar collective bargaining arrangements and AMA (NSW) for arrangements that apply in NSW.
Submissions on the draft determination are due on 4 December 2008. More information regarding the application for authorisation is available by following the Public Registers and Authorisations Registers links on the ACCC's website.
For media inquiries to the ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, please call Ms Lin Enright, ACCC Media, on (02) 6243 1108 or 0414 613 520. For general inquiries, please call the Infocentre: 1300 302 502.
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