Bauer Trader Media has launched a new online classifieds offering  as the future of Australia’s most iconic classifieds brands Tradingpost hangs in the balance.

The sites are Bauer’s first foray into the competitive Australian online market since taking over ACP, looking to take advantage of multi-platform advertising offering, and will include specialist areas like including trucks, earthmoving and industrial equipment, unique car and RV leisure.

Trader’s specialist print titles, Deals on Wheels, Farms & Farm Machinery and Earthmovers & Excavators are now paired, respectively, with tradetrucks.com.au, tradefarmmachinery.com.au and tradeearthmovers.com.au, plus matching iPad apps.

The future of Tradingpost has been thrown into doubt after the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) opposed CarSales’ plans to take on the site from Telstra.

A restructure of Telstra’s digital assets, including outsourcing sales to MCN, meant the telco had agreed to Carsales taking on the Tradingpost name to combine it with its Quicksales.com.au site.

However, just before Christmas the ACCC said it would oppose the move adding: “The proposed acquisition would have reduced the choice for advertisers by removing a significant competitor with an offer that is attractive to dealers and private advertisers, differing in important ways from the Carsales’ offer.”

CEO Greg Roebuck said that had put paid to their interest in the site adding: “We're disappointed that the ACCC decided to oppose the implementation of the agreement.

“In recent years the general classifieds and auction space has been increasingly dominated by a single overseas-owned operation. In association with quicksales.com.au, a revitalised Tradingpost would have delivered stronger choice to consumers and businesses alike, as well as keeping both taxes and employment in Australia."

However, he said the company was committed to strengthening the Quicksales brand.

Telstra had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.