The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a draft determination proposing to allow Lottery Agents Queensland (LAQ) to continue to negotiate on behalf of its members. The proposed five year authorisation covers collective negotiations with Golden Casket Lottery Corporation and other potential future Queensland lottery providers.
LAQ represents over 1000 agents in Queensland. At present Golden Casket is the only licenced lottery provider in Queensland and LAQ currently negotiates lottery agent agreements on behalf of its members with Golden Casket. Golden Casket’s exclusive licence to conduct lotteries in Queensland expires in 2016 and Lottery Agents Queensland has sought authorisation to also collectively bargain with any organisation granted a licence from 2016 onwards.
“Collective negotiation can allow members of a collective bargaining group to have more effective input into contracts and deliver agreements that are better tailored to their needs,” ACCC Deputy Chair Dr Michael Schaper said.
The collective bargaining arrangements were initially authorised by the ACCC in 2003 and were subsequently re-authorised in 2008.
The ACCC has also previously authorised similar collective bargaining arrangements for lottery agents in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania. The ACCC has also recently authorised a similar collective bargaining arrangement by Queensland Newsagents Federation.
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 at www.accc.gov.au/AuthorisationsRegister
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