26Negotiating agents for hirers

26 Negotiating agents for hirers

(1) A hirer may, by instrument, appoint a person or group of persons to be the negotiating agent for the hirer in relation to the engagement of a contractor or contractors, including the making, variation or termination of regulated contracts.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), a contractor or group of contractors must not refuse to recognise a negotiating agent duly appointed by a hirer for the purposes of subsection (1).

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply if the person, or a representative of the group, refusing has not been given a copy of the agent's instrument of appointment before the refusal.

(4) If requested to do so by the negotiating agent, a contractor or group of contractors must deal exclusively with the agent within the scope of the agent's authority.

(5) A person must not coerce, or attempt to coerce, a hirer—

(a) to appoint, or not to appoint, a particular person or group of persons as a negotiating agent; or

(b) to terminate the appointment of a negotiating agent.

Pt 2 Div. 6 (Heading and s. 26A) inserted by No. 33/2019 s. 20.