STAFF REPORTER

Seniors’ advocate group Retirees WA has been granted the right to collectively negotiate cheap funerals for its members.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today announced it would not stand in the way of Retirees WA’s bid for a 10-year approval to collectively bargain with the WA Funeral Directors’ Association and other independent funeral directors.

Similar arrangements have been authorised at various times since 1986.

“The ACCC considers that the collective bargaining arrangements result in significant savings on funeral costs for members of Retirees WA (Inc),” Acting Commission chairman Michael Schaper said.

“The ACCC is satisfied that the voluntary nature of the arrangements, the limited scope and composition of the collective bargaining groups and the history of good outcomes mean that the likelihood of any potential detriment is minimal.”