The ACCC proposes to re-authorise the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria (the Various States and Territories) to permit them to continue to coordinate with various health service providers, in order to maximise the effectiveness of their responses to the continued COVID-19 pandemic.
The health departments of the Various States and Territories, including public hospitals and other public healthcare facilities, seek authorisation to allow coordination between themselves and various participating private healthcare providers, with a view to having those providers supplying resources and services to the overall response to the COVID-19 pandemic being coordinated by the Various States and Territories.
In August 2020 the ACCC granted authorisation to the Various States and Territories engage in the same arrangements for 12 months. The 2020 authorisations are due to expire on 30 September 2021.
The ACCC proposes to grant re-authorisation for 18 months. The ACCC now invites submissions in relation to the draft determinations by 21 October 2021, before making its final decision.
The ACCC also granted interim authorisation to allow the arrangements to continue while the ACCC assesses the applications for re-authorisation.
Further information about the ACCC’s draft and interim decisions in relation to Victoria, Queensland, NSW, ACT, NT and Tasmania is available on the ACCC’s public register.