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Competition

Extraordinary sales growth for Amazon Australia

57% year on year growth achieved by Amazon.

Amazon has become one of the leading online marketplace in Australia in just four short years, zooming ahead of rivals such as Catch and Kogan during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Amazon’s sales revenue hit A$1.75 billion in 2021, due to its “the everything store” status, coupled with a hefty streaming offering through Amazon Prime. In 2020, revenue more than doubled to reach A$1.12 billion.

Amazon.com.au, the online store portion of Amazon’s local business, generated sales of $883 million in 2021, a huge leap from 2020’s $517 million.

Amazon Prime memberships accounted for $155 million, and is a fast-growing arm of the local Amazon enterprise. In 2019, the nascent streaming service made just $35.4 million in Australia.

“Revenue from related parties”, which accounts for royalties from Aussie shoppers buying via international arms of the Amazon store, reached $471 million, up from $371 million.

Now, if only they paid a decent amount of tax.

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Competition

Newsagents: check out Officeworks

With non-essential retail back open in Victoria I got out to Officeworks earlier this week to see what changes they had made given their proximity to a couple of my businesses.

It is fascinating the shift in focus in Officeworks. While stationery and office related products remain at their core, they have products that speak to other purchase reasons, and through which they can expand the appeal of their business.

Their gifting, for example, has expanded from what I can see, especially indigenous inspired gifting, which is on trend right now.

Their 2022 diary story is fresh and forward-leaning, quite unique actually – but expensive.

Their calendar range comprehensive.

If you have an Officeworks nearby, I urge you to check it out, so you understand what you are competing with, even if you don’t think of them as a competitor to a newsagency. They are, of course.

I think Officeworks has come out of lockdown with renewed focus in terms of range and in terms of the shop floor experience. Each staff member I interacted with was happy, keen to help and happy to be serving customers.

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Competition

Understanding a massive retail competitor

Local small business retailers too often dismiss Amazon as a competitor because they are too big, or feel unreachable. The thing in, Amazon is one of the most clever and engaged data driven companies in the world.

If you want to understand how the company leverages data in its decision making, read Mapping Amazon. Where the Online Giant Locates Its Warehouses and Why. I found it educational, and fascinating.

Amazon is a competitor we need to better understand. Their reach is extraordinary. Every move is calculated, based on data, and that is why this article is important to read.

The article I have linked to can be easy to dismiss with they are not doing that here, because we don’t see it like in Mexico or the US. They are, though, but on a scale approximating our size.

Amazon is a massive competitor. It is vital we try and understand them.

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Competition

ICYMI: Officeworks had an excellent year

In the Wesfarmers results released Friday last week, you can read about the good year had by their Officeworks business.

Officeworks’ revenue increased 8.7 per cent to $3,029 million for the year. Earnings increased 7.6 per cent to $212 million.

“Officeworks delivered solid earnings growth for the year, supported by strong sales growth, despite some margin pressure from continued investment in price, changes in sales mix and higher supply chain costs.

“Officeworks continued to invest in the every-channel model, including through a new Print and Create website, launch of a Geeks2U subscription program and development of its data and digital capabilities to provide more timely, personalised and engaging communication to customers.”

Here are key pages from their investor presentation, which is available publicly. They speak to focus, which I find useful. Their progress on strategy and outlook are instructive as to opportunities we can consider, regardless of business size.

Officeworks has come a long way in the last few years. What was a struggling business is dominant, almost unassailable in the stationery space that was once dominated in Australia by newsagents

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Competition

Lottoland still out there pitching

I received a marketing email from Lottoland overnight. While their wording pitches betting, the product appears unchanged.

I took a look at their web traffic using a respected analytics tool I pay to access. They are getting serious traffic to their Australian website, overing around 30,000 visitors a day for the last nine months.

 

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Competition

ICYMI: WH Smith has 120 stores in Australia

UK newsagent retail group WH Smith now has 120 stores in Australia, across 8 consumer-facing shingles.

In 2011, WH Smith was early in their Australian journey. In 10 years they have come a long way. Their Australian retail group is diverse, and I think that is a strength.

The number of corporate stores in the group is an important strength, as central decisions applied to a group of stores is efficient for their focus on travel convenience.

I like the clarity of their published goal:

OUR GOAL IS TO BE THE LEADING RETAILER IN CONVENIENCE, BOOKS AND NEWS FOR THE WORLD’S TRAVELLING CUSTOMER.

Convenience is a competitive space, especially convenience in the travel setting. Locally owned indie businesses struggle in terms of buying power, marketing spend and in-store consistency.

Kudos to the folks at WH Smith for what they have done in Australia over the last 10 years. I did not expect them to be where they are today.

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Competition

Are Media / Australian Geographic campaign preferences Woolworths over local small business newsagents

Are Media has launched a campaign that preferences Woolworths over newsagents. What is utterly stupid about this is that newsagents have access to a broad range of Australian geographic products that they could promote with this campaign to make it more successful and valuable than Woolworths is doing. B&T has an image of the in-store execution.

Yes, it’s a floor display unit setup by a visual merchandiser with little or no QWWoolworths engagement.

Had Are Media and National geographic done their research and partnered with newsagents, the display would have been better integrated with the business, better connected with those working in the business.

Yes, this is a stupid decision and those responsible should have been able to make a better decision, for all stakeholders involved. This quote from sally Eagle is particularly galling:

Sally Eagle, customer director at Are Media said: “As category leader, it is incumbent on us to support other magazine publishers and the entire magazine category, particularly Australian made magazines and of course the retailers which are so vital to our collective success in connecting our brands with audiences across the country. We’re delighted to be working with Australian Geographic and Woolworths on the first of planned partnerships with other publishers and retailers.”

Sally – you are not supporting the entire magazine category with this single retailer focussed promotion. No, you are seeking to attract magazine shoppers from newsagencies, the retailers with the best magazine range in the country, and land them in Woolworths, a retailer that cares little for the medium and probably only engages when you pay them in one way or another extra to do so.

With the awesome Australian Geographic products that we already stock and our deeper engagement with that brand, we are a natural fit for this promotion.

I’d love to know how the dollars flowed to make this a Woolworths promotion. Which businesses paid for what. For example, is Woolworths paid for the floorspace? Newsagents place displays like this for free? Are Woolworths staff trained? In my experience, not beyond the very basics? Does the campaign help grow the Australian geographic brand engagement? Unlikely with no branded allied product available in Woolworths – or if it is, it is not located with this floor unit.

Underlying this Woolworths, Are Media and Australian Geographic is a desire to attract magazine shoppers to Woolworths. Thanks for that to all involved.

Yes, this is frustrating. In real terms, newsagents make less out of magazines today than a few years ago. That a key supplier ignores them for good promotions, like this one, challenges one’s support for the category.

To the ex newsagents preparing to comment that nothing has changed: Yes, you are right, good for you. Some newsagents have responded by quitting the category. For others, the foot traffic and GP$ are too much to ignore.

To anyone at Are Media preparing to say newsagents are important, we respect the channel: Words are meaningless when not backed by action.

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Competition

How Amazon is redefining everyday stationery purchasing in Australia

We are starting to see Amazon playing in categories that will affect newsagency and similar businesses. As more an more categories fill and the company leverages better pricing deals and connects with online purchase levers, their success is growing and will grow further.

Take this simple pack of 4-colour Bic pens:

Beyond the price, there is the subscription offer, making re-purchase on a timed program easy, convenient. 10% off is compelling. As is free delivery on orders of $39.00 our more. This is an easy threshold to achieve when buying stationery.

The product information online for this item is terrific, making it easy for the online shopper. This is what newsagents are competing with when it comes to online sales of stationery.

In capital city situations it is challenging. Not as much in regional Australia. however, with online, geography is not a challenge in that the free delivery offer is there for all who meet the requirements.

What it is taking a while for Amazon to reach critical mass in Australia, they are having success by getting their online pitch right. This Bic pen offer is, to meta good example of them getting it right, creating compelling price, product information and service experience that will be a good foundation for long term success.

Right now, the Amazon everyday stationery experience is  better than others in this space in Australia. That, of course, can change quickly.

This does not mean you would give up chasing online stationery sales. However, it does mean that in Amazon  you have a formidable competitor.

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Competition

Tough trading results for Reject Shop

The Reject Shop has had a tough year. Their annual results indicate a sales decline of .8% and a decline in profit from $16M last year to -$16.9M this year. While some of the loss is due to write downs, trading appears to be challenging for the group.

I think any business that pitches low prices on known brands as the key reason to shop with them will always be vulnerable to attack from others playing the same game.

Genuine differentiation is key in retail. The best differentiation is one where you have control, where it is your asset and therefore is not easily copied.

The Reject Shop plays in a range of categories important to newsagents. It is worth taking the time to read their annual report and to look carefully at their businesses. It includes this from the Acting CEO:

The sales decline was compounded by a reduction in our gross margin which reduced through the second half. The reduction in margin was the result of the following factors:

  • ƒ  a response to competitive price pressures which resulted in price roll backs;
  • ƒ  increased markdowns to clear product in support of simplifying the shopping experience; and
  • ƒ  as a result of responding to the shift in elements of the merchandise strategy which resulted in clearance activity.

Additionally, we experienced a significant increase in our shrink results on the prior year. We are progressing through a plan to reduce the impact of shrink.

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Competition

If you compete with the Reject Shop…

The Reject Shop appears to be in challenging times, according to a report in The Age.

The Reject Shop will part ways with its chief executive and has revealed it is heading for a full-year loss, as sales evaporate and it cuts prices amid fierce competition from supermarkets and department stores.

The discount retail chain on Thursday said it now expected to run at a loss of $1 million to $2 million this year – a downgrade from earlier guidance for a profit of $3 million to $4 million.

The ASX announcement from the business has more details:

In addition, Gross Margins have fallen as the expected benefits from Sales and Merchandise related initiatives have not landed with consumers during the half. This margin pressure has been exacerbated by the competitive pricing pressure placed on a number of key Sales Departments from both the major Supermarkets (FMCG) and the Department Stores (General Discretionary Merchandise), forcing price roll-backs across a number of key lines as the business looks to maintain its price gap in the market.

Non-product related costs including Store Wages, Occupancy Costs and Head Office Costs have been well controlled during the half, with material cash reductions on rent renewals still being delivered.

This will be good news to newsagents competing with the discount retailer. I have been tracking them this year because of their creeping into more areas in the gift, card and related categories. I thought they were doing well in the context of their type of retail.

For what it’s worth and thinking about today’s news, I think the Reject Shop is encountering challenges because of renewed focus from K-Mart, supermarkets and because the Reject Shop approach to retail is not what shoppers look for today.

The days of retail shelves being full as a sales approach are over for now. Shoppers want engagement, experiences. Give them this and sales will increase.

I visit a couple of Reject Shops regularly to watch their changes and offering experiences is not something I see.

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Competition

A new incarnation of Zoodle by WH Smith

When I first saw the Zoodle retail format by UK newsagent chain WH Smith in 2012 it was primarily a kid-focussed store, at Melb0urne International Airport. A week ago, I saw a new incarnation of Zoodle, at the Virgin terminal in the Brisbane domestic airport.

This latest version of Zoodle I got to see is quite different to what I had seen before. It is primarily airport convenience in focus, but with a presence of items for kids as well as some games. It certainly looks different to the usual airport convenience or news related retail, but on its shelves it offers the same products – candy, travel items, phone SIMs chilled drinks as well as coffee. Kids are represented, but not significantly.

I like the layout, it is open and easy to shop. However, it remains traditional retail in approach. I didn’t see them embracing of the advances I have seen in US convention hence and airport retail businesses.

The Brisbane airport store does not look like it fits neatly with the pitch on the WH Smith website:

Zoodle will send you on your travels with a smile. We have a great selection of children’s books, toys, gifts and games to keep young travellers happy, plus gadgets, snacks and treats for all. Whether you’re looking to keep the kids entertained on the flight, or looking for the perfect gift, we’ve got everything for the young and the young at heart.

I wonder if what we are seeing is an evolution of Zoodle, ahead of what is on the corporate website.

I also wonder if we will see it emerge outside of transit locations. On the hah street, this would be a fresh look – in my view, more interesting than the tired 7-Eleven.

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Competition

7-Eleven offers delivery in the US

7-Eleven offers a delivery service in the US. The products are not just convenience lines such as drinks, donuts, bananas, candy and similar. No, the range includes frozen food, stationery, gadgets, personal care, health and more categories. The range is quite broad.

Offering delivery makes sense in this era of considerably disrupted retail and in a time when people have been educated to have prepared meals delivered to them for minimal fees with minimal fuss, through App access, like 7-Eleven offers.

To get people engaged, the priest three deliveries are delivered free.

The service is broadly available, including in  cities smaller than some Australian cities:

The App was launched mid last year and I am told the uptake has been terrific and let to market expansion for the offer.

As has happened with Uber Eats, retailers in the convenience space will need to be aware and engaged.

This move shifts what it means to be convenience. Location is not necessarily everything.

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Competition

Government owned Australia Post outlets over reach, again, with Christmas catalogue

The latest catalogue distributed by Australia Post, a Christmas catalogue, sees, in my opinion, Australia Post overstep its obligations under the Act under which it operates. My concern here is their corporate stores, their government owned stores. These stores are the federal government operating a business, competing with small family run businesses.

Take a look at some of what is in this sixteen page catalogue.

How do I see this as an overstep? Australia Post is a protected brand, a monopoly. landlords give them preferential treatment, delivering a lower occupancy cost. They land people in their shops because of their monopoly over core products and services.

Here is why I think they are in breach of the act.

Section 14 of the Act requires Australia Post to provide a postal service first and foremost:

The principal function of Australia Post is to supply postal services within Australia and between Australia and places outside Australia.

Section 15 talks about permitted subsidiary functions:

A subsidiary function of Australia Post is to carry on, outside Australia, any business or activity relating to postal services.

Section 16 talks about other permitted functions:

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.

Successive federal governments  have permitted Australia Post to take millions of dollars in revenue from small businesses, from family businesses. The situation is getting worse. The behaviour of federal politicians in relation to Australia Post over-reach makes a mockery of the often repeated claims in support of small business.

The federal government deregulated newspaper and magazine distribution in 1999 saying that newsagents needed to get into the competitive world.  It is a pity that they have not applied the same competition rules to the business they own.

Back to the Christmas 2018 catalogue. Almost every page contains items shoppers can purchase from their local newsagency, pharmacy, toy shop, book shop and more … local family run businesses that need to market to attract shoppers for what they sell. Australia Post, on the other hand, lands people for low cost because of their monopoly and then sell what these other small businesses sell, as the add on, as the cream … dining revue from the independent small businesses.

It is time for Aussie politicians to walk the walk when it comes to small business retail.

Finally, to be clear, I have no concern with what LPOs do in that they are locally owned businesses. My concern here is the corporate stores.

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Australia Post

Missing Ansett Airlines

Seventeen years ago, Ansett Airlines was grounded, never to fly again.

I miss Ansett, it was an terrific airline. I also miss it it because it was the underdog, the I think I can commercial competitor to the government owned airline. It fit well with me in a small business sense.

What I really miss abut Ansett when I travel is the service. There was something about it that was unique, something one does not see today from airlines. I got the impression they knew that service was a key differentiator for them.

While businesses often say that their service is a differentiator, the customer experience does not so often reflect this. For me, the Ansett experience was actions speaking louder than words.

I am in a couple of frequent flyer forums where Ansett comes up from time to time. People often speak in glowing terms of the company and their experiences with it.

That Ansett is talked of in such glowing terms today, seventeen years on, demonstrates that their service pitch was on-point, that they got it right. Many of us in business would wish the same good memories for our own businesses.

Getting customer service right is hard, especially today in the era of instant outrage, which is aided and abetted by the megaphone of social media. Because of this world, the bar is higher than ever and accountability more public than ever before.

While it is nice to look back nostalgically at Ansett, and years for those times, today is today and we in business must run our businesses for today’s situation. We have to operate knowing that even the smallest mistake can blow up and reach thousands in seconds. We have to focus delivering honest, engaged and valuable customer service We have to do this in a way that differentiate titans us from competitors on our street, in malls and online.

I get some motivation from Ansett stories in forums today when I read them because they remind me of a customer service experience I truly appreciated, an experience that differentiated the Ansett product from its competitor and, for me, that is at the heart of business competition.

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Competition

Lottoland going nowhere, building their database

On TV the other night Lottoland claimed 700,000 Australian customers. Their pitches have not slowed since parliament set a date for their closure in Australia. Emails like this one in the image show clever campaigning on their part to get punters to part with their cash.

I wonder if the marketing is all part of a plan to remain connected with these shoppers long after the sunset of their traditional Australian offering becomes illegal. Nothing else makes sense.

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Competition

Sheesh … Officeworks is expensive

I was in Sydney Wednesday and needed small kraft bag. $2.18 is what Officeworks in Pitt Street wanted for a bag that I suspect would have cost them between 15 cents and 40 cents depending on the volume they purchased.

I made other arrangements. $2.18 is way overpriced for a small think kraft bag. Thinking as a shopper, it reminded me that Officeworks is expensive.

The challenge for newsagents who compete with Officeworks is how to make the price pitch. I think sharing shock price comparisons could be useful, especially in regional situations.

If there genuinely is a big price difference where Officeworks is far more expensive, share it. Stick to the facts. Compare like for like.

If, in comparison, you find Officeworks cheaper, think about how you respond in your business. Approach it as an opportunity.

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Competition

Lottoland’s Tuesday jackpot looks very much like OzLotto

Check out Tuesday Jackpot from Lottoland. As a correspondent pointed out to me, this betting product looks and feels like OzLotto. Here is what they said:

Just wanted to tell you about Lottoland’s newest lottery, the “Tuesday Jackpot” (https://www.lottoland.com.au/tuejackpot)
It looks ridiculously similar to the Oz Lotto. You know – similar logo, you pick 7 numbers from 1-45, the same odds and drawn at the same time as shown here (https://www.lottoland.com.au/tuejackpot/help). The only differences are that it has a minimum jackpot of $8 million and it costs $2/line.
I thought your viewers might be interested to see how Lottoland is clearly trying to get around the betting ban on domestic lotteries.

See for yourself, here are the details from the Lottoland pitch:

Cost per Game & How to Bet on Tuesday Jackpot

Betting on Tuesday Jackpot only costs just $2 per standard game.

Pick 7 numbers from 1 to 45. Each Tuesday night, 7 regular and 2 supplementary numbers are drawn from the Swiss Loto Express. Match all 7 regular winning numbers to hit the jackpot. Check our TUE Jackpot FAQ for more info.

The current jackpot isn’t big enough? Just use Lottoland®’s special Double Jackpot feature at the top of the bet slip to bet for double the jackpot amount!

Don’t want to share the jackpot? The NumberShield option protects your Division 1 winnings – just activate this feature for selected fields or for your entire bet slip.

Never Miss a Jackpot with Subscriptions

A way to bet on Tuesday Jackpot with your favourite numbers for upcoming draws is to setup a subscription. Your bets will automatically renew for all the upcoming draws until you decide to cancel. No need to put in your numbers for every draw plus you won’t miss a big jackpot!

Bet on Tuesday Jackpot with the Lottoland App

With the official Lottoland Australia App you can bet on the lottery, check results on the go and gain access to even more promotions and discounts. Download the Lottoland App for iPhone or Android today!

Tuesday Jackpot System Bet Prices

System Bets allow you to pick more than the regular 7 numbers, providing you with exponential odds of winning. Refer to our magazine article for more information about System Bets.

System Bets for the TUE Jackpot start at $11.60. For a full list of all System Bets please refer to our TUE Jackpot FAQ page.

Lottoland is clearly not going anywhere. It is developing products and promoting them widely, in pursuit of a profitable future in Australia.

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Competition

MyLotto24 closing

MyLotto24 published this note announcing their closure:

Dear Customer,

As you may know, the government recently introduced a total ban on international lottery betting; choosing to protect the interests of the existing lottery monopoly instead of customers and newsagents (who stood to benefit from a brand-new income stream). 

Unfortunately, despite doing everything in our power to be able to continue bringing you greater innovation and access to life-changing winnings, we have had to take the tough decision to leave the Australian market.

I’d like to thank you for your very valued custom and support through our journey.

Our website will be closed down on the 23 of July, which means you will no longer be able to access your accounts or place any bets after this date. If you have an active subscription ticket this will be deactivated for you. We will also refund you for any outstanding draws after this date.

Your funds will be paid out to your saved payment card. If you have not used a payment card to top up your balance, please contact Customer Services so arrangements can be made to refund your account balance.

You can reach our Customer Service agents by email at service@myLotto24.com.au.

Thank you again for your support.

Mikael Sundelin

Managing Director myLotto24 Australia

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Competition

NSW government extends lottery protection for newsagents

Here is a press release from ALNA on today’s announcement:

Lottery protections extended by NSW Government

Protections that prevent lotteries from being sold in large supermarket chains have been extended to 2021 by the NSW Government, to protect consumers and small business.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Australia, 9 July 2018: The Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association (ALNA), is pleased that today Deputy Premier and Minister for Small Business John Barilaro has announced a three-year extension to an agreement with Tabcorp to not open up lottery sales to large supermarket chains.

Adam Joy, CEO of the Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association (ALNA) said, “This is a win for small business and a victory of common sense. Securing the extension of these protections for our members has been an important priority area ALNA has been working diligently on with Deputy Premier and Minister for Small Business John Barilaro.

“Minister Barilaro has been a long-time supporter of our industry, and ALNA continues to maintain a productive working relationship with the NSW Government on lotteries and other important legislation and regulatory matters that support our channel. We greatly appreciate his efforts and leadership to deliver what is a really positive extension period, which makes sure newsagents will continue as the primary outlets for the sale of lottery products.

“Lotteries don’t operate in a free market because gambling products aren’t like other products, which is why governments regulate their access to consumers. This is a good thing for consumers and provides safeguards to them and the 1,400 lottery agents who sell lottery tickets in NSW.

“By the NSW Government signing a renewed Memorandum of Understanding with Tabcorp, newsagents can be assured that they will not be competing with large supermarket chains to sell lottery products. This extension follows on from positive news of last month’s amendment to the Interactive Gambling Bill, which will make lotto betting prohibited in Australia by early 2019. We are pleased to have helped bring these assurances to our members.”

Ibram Kamil, General Manager of ALNA NSW, and also a newsagent, commented, “This outcome for newsagents and lottery agents allows us to continue growing and evolving our businesses with certainty and strong support from the NSW Government. I know they are going to really appreciate this.”

On behalf of our NSW members and their staff, the ALNA thanks the NSW Government for its efforts to extend the agreement with Tabcorp to not make lottery sales available to large supermarket chains, to protect NSW consumers and to champion these small businesses. And we encourage them to continue important support for our member small business news and lottery agents.

“The Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association will continue to provide strong advocacy for our members, including to help newsagents receive better deals on the lottery products that they are legally permitted to sell,” concluded Mr Joy.

While there will be some who say what about online or what about commissions, in my view this is a good win for newsagents by ALNA, something to celebrate and appreciate by small business lottery retailers.

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Competition

Is the new Australia Post ship direct to China shop a breach of competitive neutrality?

Australia Post has opened a shop in Chatswood NSW where shoppers can select items for direct to China shipment. The store is aimed at Chinese personal shoppers, providing them an easy ship service that other Australian retailers struggle to achieve thanks to Australia Post inefficiencies for online retailers.

This is where I wonder if Australia Post is breaching competitive neutrality obligations it has as a government owned business. It appears to be giving its own business benefits that it does not give other retailers chasing online sales.

From Treasury:

Competitive neutrality requires that government business activities should not enjoy any net competitive advantages simply by virtue of public sector ownership. This allows market competition to drive the efficient production of goods and services by the lowest cost business.

This latest Australia Post, like so many in their corporate stores, leverages their government ownership and protection for competitive advantage.

The other issue here is the direct to China route opened for selling baby formula, product that can be challenging for Australian families to buy from Australian supermarkets. This is another aspect of this new Australia Post business that warrants discussion.

I am grateful to a regular visitor to this blog who pointed me to the story. Their concern related to the milk issue and the evolution of Australia Post – that baby formula is in short supply in particular.

Australia Post is straying further from its charter, leveraging its government ownership and protection to compete with commercial businesses.

The federal government listens to the Murdoch family when they complain about government owned ABC  commercial enterprises harming their commercial interests, why do they not listed when small business newsagents and other retailers complain about how the government owned Australia Post leverages its protection and government ownership to hurt them? Because small business only matters at election time.

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Australia Post
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