On 30 September 2005, the Australian Hotel Association Divisions of Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia and the Northern Territory (AHA Divisions) lodged an application for authorisation seeking to conduct collective negotiations with Tabcorp Holdings Ltd, Sky Channel Pty Ltd, Racing and Wagering Western Australia, Unitab Ltd, ThoroughVision Pty Ltd, Tote Tasmania Pty Ltd and Racing Victoria Pty Ltd.
The ACCC has released a final determination granting authorisation for five years, subject to conditions, for several AHA Divisions to engage in collective bargaining with various broadcasting and wagering service providers on the terms and conditions of the supply of broadcasting and wagering services. The conditions restrict the size of the negotiating committees and restrict information sharing between the negotiating committees formed.
On 21 December 2005, the ACCC granted interim authorisation for the AHA Divisions to engage in collective negotiations with providers of racing broadcasting services on the terms and conditions of the supply of broadcasting services. Interim authorisation was granted subject to conditions and will continue to protect collective negotiations with providers of racing broadcasting services until the final determination comes into effect or until a decision to revoke interim authorisation is made.
