Officeworks, Harvey Norman and Dick Smith are the go to businesses when it comes to home / small business technology such as printers.
As much as I wish newsagents were in the mix they are not since we have ignored technology for the most part except for our recent focus on ink and toner – more fool us.
It seems that Australia Post is interested, again, in technology product, particularly printers – if the latest promotion is anything to go by.
The Government owned Post Office opposite my newsagency is promoting the High tech, low prices flyer. They are using the pulling power of the respected Australia Post brand built on the protection of a Government controlled monopoly to compete with commercial businesses.
Here is what the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989 says about ‘incidental’ (non postal) services Australia Post may offer:
16 Functions—incidental businesses and activities
(1) The functions of Australia Post include the carrying on, within or outside Australia, of any business or activity that is incidental to:
(a) the supplying of postal services under section 14; or
(b) the carrying on of any business or activity under section 15.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the functions of Australia Post include the carrying on, within or outside Australia, of any business or activity that is capable of being conveniently carried
on:
(a) by the use of resources that are not immediately required in carrying out Australia Post’s principal or subsidiary function;
or
(b) in the course of:
(i) supplying postal services under section 14; or
(ii) carrying on any business or activity under section 15.
On the back page of the flyer is a range of consumable items which I sell. That my own Government is competing with me in this way demonstrates how out of touch it is with small business.
Wouldnt 16-2-a give enough scope for Oz Post to sell what they do?
That is what they say, of course. It all depends on interpretation. The Government taking revenue and jobs from small business on the back of a protected monopoly brand is my issue with what they do. Mark
I have always been of the opinion that 16-2(a) gives Australia Post more than enough room to operate as they currently do.
I think the problem lies within the act itself. It should not provide this much room for Australia Post to undertake commercial activities outside their primary functions. There should be clear provisions that force Australia Post to take into account the impact of their commercial operations on private business with which it operates in competition.