The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a draft determination proposing to re-authorise collective bargaining arrangements put forward by the Australian Medical Association (NSW) for ten years.
The AMA (NSW) proposes to continue to collectively bargain on behalf of visiting medical officers in the NSW public hospital system with the NSW Ministry of Health and public health organisations.
“The ACCC considers that the arrangements are likely to result in more effective representation and retention of visiting medical officers in the NSW public hospital system,” ACCC Deputy Chair Dr Michael Schaper said.
“Rates of remuneration can only be negotiated with NSW Health and any potential detriment is limited by state legislation, which constrains public health organisations from negotiating terms and conditions that are inconsistent with those centrally negotiated by NSW Health.”
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.