The decision on Apple Pay in Australia has been delayed after the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) decided not to grant major banks’ request to access to the Apple iPhone platform.

Last week, Apple has lashed out at three of Australia’s biggest banks -- Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), National Australia Bank (NAB) and Westpac Banking Corp -- as well as Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, for forming a “cartel” and threatening to boycott Apple Pay if they were not given access to iPhone’s digital wallet.

The banks want the ACCC to grant them request for interim authorisation and force Apple to open the access to its Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna, which would enable contactless payments to be made through their own digital wallets.

The multinational tech giant has asked ACCC to reject the banks’ request, saying that giving access to the banks would compromise the security of its smartphone system.

Read more: Apple blasts CBA, NAB and Westpac for forming a ‘cartel’ against Apple Pay

On Friday, the ACCC has decided not to grant the interim authorisation during this early stage of its assessment process. ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said that the commission requires more time to consult and consider the views of all the parties involved and other interested parties.

“The entire ACCC authorisation process usually takes up to six months, including the release of a draft decision for consultation before making a final decision,” Sims said in a statement. “We expect to release a draft decision in October 2016. The ACCC’s decision not to grant interim authorisation at this time is not indicative of whether or not a draft or final authorisation will be granted.”

In July, the banks sought authorisation to engage in limited collective negotiation with Apple and other third-party mobile wallet services providers. They needed the authorisation to enter into a limited form of collective boycott while collective negotiations with Apple are ongoing. They also sought a decision on interim authorisation within 28 days of their application.

The banks apparently do not want to forfeit the millions of dollars they would have earned from Apple Pay through interchange fees, which would go to the iPhone-maker. Therefore, they wanted Apple to allow them to charge people who use Apple Pay.

In a letter to the ACCC earlier this month, Apple has blasted the banks for asking the commission for an interim authorisation. “These banks want to maintain complete control over their customers. The present application is only the latest tactic employed by these competing banks to blunt Apple’s entry into the Australian market,” the US-based company wrote in a scathing rebuttal.

“In Apple’s view, interim authorisation of the cartel by the ACCC should be refused.”

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