Site navigation

Declaration

Declaration is a pathway available under Part IIIA of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) for third parties to share the use of certain infrastructure facilities of national significance (ie to have a service provided by a facility declared).

If a service is declared, access seekers acquire a legal right to:

  • negotiate access to the service with the service provider; and

  • if necessary, have their request for access determined through arbitration by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

A party wanting access to a particular service may apply to the Council to have the service 'declared'. The Council considers the application before forwarding a recommendation to the designated Minister, who decides whether to declare the service. The Minister's decision may be appealed to the Australian Competition Tribunal. The Council cannot recommend that a service be declared unless it is affirmatively satisfied that all of the criteria in section 44G(2) of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) are met.

The Council must also consider whether it would be economical for anyone to develop another facility that could provide part of the service and the duration of a declaration.

The Council has prepared a Guide to Declaration which reflects the Council's current thinking as it has evolved through dealing with applications since 1996, and draws on relevant decisions of the Australian Competition Tribunal and the Courts. The Council notes, however, that each application raises its own unique issues. As such, the Council's thinking continues to evolve and the views expressed in the guide are neither definitive nor binding.

Parties contemplating an application for declaration should also have regard to the Council's
Application Template which sets out the information that should be contained and issues to be addressed in such an application. While it cannot prejudge any application the Council also encourages potential applicants to contact the Council Secretariat in advance of lodging an application.