The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a determination authorising the Victorian Association of Newsagents (VANA) to negotiate on behalf of its members.
The authorisation covers collective negotiations with Tattersall’s Sweeps Pty Ltd (Tatts), Intralot Australia Pty Ltd (Intralot) and any other public lottery provider who may become licensed to operate a public lottery in Victoria during the term of the authorisation.
The ACCC has granted authorisation until 12 June 2024.
VANA represents around 460 newsagents in Victoria, many of which are lottery agents selling Tatts and Intralot products. At present, Tatts and Intralot are the only licenced lottery providers in Victoria and both have exclusive licences to operate until 2016.
“The collective negotiations will allow newsagents to provide input into contracts with lottery providers and deliver agreements that are better tailored to the needs of VANA’s members,” ACCC Acting Chairman Dr Michael Schaper said.
The ACCC has also previously authorised another industry association, the Lottery Agents Association of Victoria, to collectively bargain with Tatts and Intralot on behalf of its members, as well as similar collective bargaining arrangements in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and Tasmania.
As with these previous authorisations, the ACCC is not authorising VANA to collective negotiate on issues relating to the impact on existing lottery agents when new lottery agents are proposed, due to concerns that this may raise barriers to entry for new lottery agents.
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.
Further information about the application for authorisation and the granting of interim authorisation is available on the authorisation register.