THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has signaled collective bargaining powers for chicken growers in Queensland.

It has issued a draft decision proposing to allow members of the Queensland Chicken Growers Association to collectively bargain with Inghams, Baiada and Golden Cockerel for 10 years.

As it stands Queensland chicken growers and processors can collectively bargain under an authorisation provided by state legislation.

Authorisation would allow the growers to continue to collectively bargain with processors in the absence of a state-based statutory exemption.

Transaction cost savings could be created through collective bargaining arrangements and provide broiler chicken growers with the opportunity to have effective input into the terms and conditions of their contracts with chicken meat processors.

There are approximately 58 chicken-growing farms currently contracted to three processors in Queensland.

The ACCC has previously authorised similar collective bargaining arrangements for chicken growers in Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

Authorisation provides statutory protection from court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

The ACCC has invited comments on its draft determination.