The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has granted interim authorisation* to the Municipal Association of Victoria, on behalf of a group of Melbourne metropolitan councils, to allow them to collectively tender for bus shelter installation and maintenance services, including offering an advertising licence.
"Interim authorisation extends to allowing participating councils to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Director of Public Transport to transfer their responsibilities in relation to the provision of bus shelter services", ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today. "The Director would then be responsible for the subsequent tender process.
"Interim authorisation was requested so that the Director could begin the tender process promptly to ensure that a contract could be awarded before an existing bus shelter agreement expires in July 2007".
The granting of interim authorisation in no way binds the ACCC in its consideration of the substantive application for authorisation. In making this decision the ACCC has considered that the market dynamics will not be permanently altered by the conduct. No binding contracts resulting from the tender process will be entered into under the interim authorisation.
MAV has lodged the application on behalf of the following: Boroondara City Council, Cardinia Shire Council, Casey City Council, Glen Eira City Council, Hobsons Bay City Council, Hume City Council, Maribyrnong City Council, Maroondah City Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Whitehorse City Council, Whittlesea City Council, Wyndham City Council and Yarra City Council.
More information regarding the application and granting of interim authorisation, including the terms, is available by following the Authorising anti-competitive conduct and Authorisations links on the ACCC's website.