Authorisations

ACCC proposes to authorise roll out of Woolworths' discount programs to participating BP sites

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a draft decision proposing to grant conditional authorisation to a commercial alliance between BP Australia Pty Ltd, BP Resellers, and Woolworths Limited (ASX:WOW).

Authorisation would allow participating BP service stations to accept Woolworths shopper dockets and participate in the Woolworths Rewards loyalty program, if BP is successful in acquiring Woolworths’ service stations.

ACCC proposes to approve collective bargaining between Licensed Post Offices and Australia Post

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation to Licensed Post Office Group Ltd (LPO Group) and its current and future licensed post office members to collectively negotiate with Australia Post.

LPO Group and its members are seeking to collectively negotiate and enter into a new agreement with Australia Post, or vary the agreements that are currently in place for the provision of postal and distribution services by Licensed Post Offices (LPOs).

ACCC grants authorisation to Virgin Australia's mainland China and Hong Kong airline alliance

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has granted authorisation to coordinate airline services for five years to Virgin Australia Airlines, the HNA Aviation Group, Hong Kong Airlines and Hong Kong Express Airways. The Alliance Framework Agreement may see additional airline services operate between Australia and mainland China, and Australia and Hong Kong.

Canadian connection builds on international experience

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is pleased to announce that Ms Jeanne Pratt of the Canadian Competition Bureau will be acting Executive General Manager of its Merger and Authorisation Review Branch as part of a 12-month interchange.

Ms Pratt will be replacing Mr Rami Greiss, who will take on the position of Senior Deputy Commissioner, Cartels and Deceptive Marketing Practices Branch at the Canadian regulator, where Ms Pratt is currently Senior Deputy Commissioner, Mergers and Monopolistic Practices Branch.

Interim authorisation granted for collective bargaining between licensed post offices and Australia Post

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has decided to grant interim authorisation to LPO Group ltd (LPO Group) and its current and future licensed post office members to collectively negotiate, enter into and give effect to agreements with Australia Post. The scope of interim authorisation is limited to licensee payments and commissions as part of the annual payment review, as well as remuneration for any new services introduced by Australia Post.

ACCC won't allow tobacco companies to act together

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is denying authorisation to British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco, and Philip Morris to jointly cease supplying retailers or wholesalers they consider to be supplying illicit tobacco.

Between them, these three companies supply well over 90 per cent of the market for tobacco products in Australia, including all of the major brands.

“This kind of interaction between all of the major competitors raises competition concerns, especially in such a highly concentrated market,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.

ACCC allows SA businesses to jointly purchase electricity

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has authorised the South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy, along with 27 other South Australian businesses, to establish a joint electricity purchasing group for 11 years.

Authorisation will allow the joint buying group to attempt to secure reliable electricity supply arrangements for its members at competitive prices. Together, the group’s total load of 269 MW accounts for around 16 per cent of electricity demand in South Australia and less than one per cent of the National Electricity Market.

ACCC approves cane growers collective bargaining

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has authorised members of the Canegrowers Organisation to collectively bargain cane supply and related contracts with mill owners and sugar marketers for ten years.

“This authorisation can provide an opportunity for growers, millers and sugar marketers to negotiate mutually beneficial contracts without breaching competition laws. It is up to the parties to decide the extent to which they take up this opportunity,” ACCC Commissioner Mick Keogh said.