The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued two separate draft notices proposing to revoke notifications* related to restrictions on methods of payment for food and beverages at two major sporting venues in Sydney.
Under one of the notifications, the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust proposes to provide consumers with the option of paying for food and beverages at the Sydney Cricket Ground and the Sydney Football Stadium using a credit or debit card on condition that they use a card issued by Macquarie Bank. After an initial period, the Trust will expand the condition to include Visa cards issued by other banks.
Under the other notification, Stadium Australia proposes to provide contactless payment services to consumers at ANZ Stadium on condition that the individual uses a Visa contactless card. This method has been trialled in the Members Area of ANZ Stadium over the past few months.
"The ACCC is not convinced that forcing consumers to use particular payment products where consumers wish to pay with a credit or debit card is in the public interest. The ACCC is particularly concerned about arrangements whereby consumers who wish to pay by credit or debit card are required to use a card issued by a particular bank," ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today.
"If restrictions of this type became widespread across the economy it could have very significant consequences. It could result in consumers needing to carry a range of card products to ensure they can make payments as they wish.
"The ACCC considers that the arrangements will also have anti-competitive effects in the markets related to the Australian card payments system."
"The ACCC generally considers that the introduction of new technology and innovations is pro-competitive and in the public interest. However, based on the information available, the ACCC is not convinced that the restrictive arrangements proposed by the Trust and by Stadium Australia are necessary to broaden the range of payment options for consumers or to introduce new technology at the venues. Accordingly, the ACCC is not convinced that the arrangements will deliver the public benefits claimed."
The two notifications were lodged separately and relate to two distinct and unrelated arrangements but they raise some similar issues.
Stadium Australia, the Trust and interested parties now have time to lodge submissions in response to the draft notices, before the ACCC decides whether to issue final notices revoking the notifications.
More information regarding the notifications and copies of the draft notices are available from the ACCC's website www.accc.gov.au (by following the Public Registers and Authorisations and Notifications Registers links) or by emailing the Adjudication Branch at adjudication@accc.gov.au.
For media inquiries to the ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, please call Ms Lin Enright, ACCC Media, on (02) 6243 1108 or 0414 613 520.
For general inquiries, please call the Infocentre: 1300 302 502.