Authorisations

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.

ACCC proposes to authorise independent cinemas to bargain collectively

The ACCC has issued a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation to Independent Cinemas Australia (ICA), and its current and future independent cinema members, to share information and collectively bargain with film distributors.

ICA and its members are seeking to share information with each other and collectively bargain with film distributors on the terms of film licensing agreements.

ACCC proposes to grant authorisation to Transport Workers Union owner drivers to collectively bargain

The ACCC proposes to grant authorisation, for five years, to the Transport Workers Union of Australia SA/NT Branch. These two authorisations provide for owner drivers contracted to Toll Transport Pty Ltd (Toll) in metropolitan Adelaide, and in Whyalla, to engage in voluntary collective bargaining with Toll.

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).