Australia Post is seeking a 10% increase in the price of posting a basic letter. The ACCC has announced an assessment of the proposal. I would prefer to see the new Labor Government conduct a review of postal services before any decision is made on this increase request.
European countries in 1997 agreed to a regulatory framework which sought to gradually limit the exclusivity of the postal services in each country. eGov monitor has more on this.
My beef with Australia Post is that their 865 government owned retail outlets have agressively gone after newsagency customers over the last ten years. They have leveraged their government protected monopoly over maiol services to bring customers to these retail locations for a fraction o the cost to newsagents to attract customers. This is a Government business taking business from family run operations. It’s unfair and hurts family run newsagencies.
So, I’d prefer a broader inquiry before the 10% increase is considered – what is best for Australians in the area of competition policy in relation to a postal service.