Authorisations

SA chicken growers authorised to collectively bargain

The ACCC has granted authorisation to the South Australian Baiada Growers Group (the Growers Group) to collectively bargain the terms and conditions of chicken grower contracts with chicken meat processor, Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd (Baiada).

The Growers Group represents all chicken growers currently contracted to Baiada in South Australia. Most of the 20 broiler chicken farmer members are small businesses. Authorisation is granted for ten years.

Participation in collective bargaining is voluntary for members of the Growers Group, and for Baiada.

ACCC to oppose BP's acquisition of Woolworths service stations

The ACCC has announced today that it intends to oppose the proposed acquisition by B P Australia Pty Ltd of Woolworths Limited’s (ASX:WOW) network of retail service station sites.

Woolworths currently operates 531 sites and has 12 sites in development. BP supplies fuel to approximately 1,400 BP-branded service stations throughout Australia, setting fuel prices at roughly 350 of them.

“We consider that BP acquiring Woolworths’ service stations will be likely to substantially lessen competition in the retail supply of fuel,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.

ACCC proposes to allow coordination to continue between Jetstar's Asian brands

The ACCC is proposing to re-authorise, for a further five years, coordination involving three Asian based Jetstar branded joint ventures: Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Pacific, and Jetstar Japan.

The Jetstar joint ventures wish to continue coordinating with each other. Jetstar is also seeking to coordinate with their shareholding airlines including Qantas, Japan Airlines and Vietnam Airlines, on passenger and cargo services within Asia in certain circumstances.

ACCC allows agribusinesses to jointly purchase energy

The ACCC is allowing businesses in the new Eastern Energy Buyers Group (EEBG) to establish a joint energy purchasing group and run joint tender processes for electricity and gas for 11 years. 

EEBG’s current members are industrial energy users who operate in the agriculture industry. Members have significant operations in Victoria and some operations interstate. The proposed joint tender process would cover supply of electricity, gas and gas transport services to members of the group.

Licensed post offices and Australia Post may collectively bargain

The ACCC has granted authorisation to the 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 sought authorisation from the ACCC to collectively negotiate and enter into a new agreement with Australia Post, or to vary agreements already in place for the provision of postal and distribution services by Licensed Post Offices (LPOs).

ACCC decides interim authorisation not needed for Port of Brisbane and Carnival

The ACCC has decided not to grant interim authorisation to the Port of Brisbane and the cruise ship operator Carnival for their proposed licence agreement relating to a proposed new cruise ship terminal.

“The decision was based on there being no conduct to which the interim authorisation would apply. It does not involve any assessment of the merits of the application for final authorisation,” ACCC Commissioner Roger Featherston said.

ACCC seeks comment on voluntary code for pop-up shops

The ACCC has today released a draft determination proposing to grant re-authorisation to the Shopping Centre Council of Australia Ltd (SCCA) for its Casual Mall Licensing Code of Practice.

The voluntary Code of Practice applies to shopping centre owners and manager who sign on to it. It regulates the terms on which participating shopping centres will grant casual licences to temporary retailers such as 'pop-up' shops.

Draft decision on fee free ATMs in remote Indigenous communities

The ACCC has issued a draft determination proposing to grant re-authorisation to parties to provide fee free ATM services in very remote Indigenous communities for 10 years.

Under the arrangement, participating banks and ATM deployers provide fee-free ATM withdrawals and balance enquiries at up to 85 selected ATMs for customers of those banks. The ACCC previously authorised the arrangement in 2012 for five years, which expires in December.

ACCC proposes to allow agribusinesses joint purchasing of energy

The ACCC has issued a draft determination proposing to allow businesses in the new Eastern Energy Buyers Group (EEBG) to run joint tender processes for electricity and gas. 

EEBG’s members operate in the agriculture industry and are industrial energy users. Members have significant operations in Victoria and some operations interstate. The proposed joint tender process would cover supply for electricity, gas and gas transport services to members of the group.