Agility Logistics Pty Ltd (Agility) lodged a collective bargaining notification on 30 October 2018 to enable it to collectively negotiate with various shipping lines (or their agents) on behalf of three Tasmanian carrot and onion exporters and any future carrot and onion exporters that join this group. Agility proposes to collectively bargain freight rates on behalf of group members in relation to the provision of aggregated volumes of carrots and onions by the individual group members, as well as improved general trading terms and conditions.
The immunity provided by the collective bargaining notification commenced on 13 November 2018. Agility requested the ACCC to extend the immunity provided by the notification up to ten years.
On 14 December 2018 the ACCC released a Statement of Reasons not objecting to the notified conduct. The ACCC decided to allow the immunity provided by the notification to remain in force for ten years from the date it was lodged. That is, the immunity will remain in force until 29 October 2028, unless it is withdrawn or revoked. Further information about this decision is available in the Statement of Reasons below.
