An alliance of industry groups and trade unions is lobbying the government to keep Australia Post in check to protect the viability of direct mail.
The group is making the two key demands all involved can agree on: Reinstating ACCC oversight of bulk mail price rises and preserving the mail carrier’s community service obligations to deliver every weekday.
Australia Post is already requesting its obligations be relaxed due to mounting losses for its mail division.
The alliance brings together the PIAA, Licenced Post Offices (LPO Group), Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) and the Communication Workers Union (CWU).
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They are also lobbying for a bipartisan round table also involving all industry stakeholders to examine options for Australia Post’s future with oversight of proposals and outcomes by the senate communications committee.
It is unclear how this will play out beyond the two key demands as the unions are unlikely to support deep cuts to Australia Post staff many in the industry consider necessary to create a more efficient and profitable operation.
PIAA chief executive and alliance spokesman Bill Healey says Australia Post is deliberately ignoring the views of the Australian community and the findings of its own research.
An Australia Post consumer survey found 85 per cent of people read their mail on the day it is received; 98 per cent open mail compared to 20-25 per cent for email; and 42 per cent of customers preferred to receive bills and statements by mail as opposed to 31 per cent by email, 25 per cent both mail and email, and two per cent neither.
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“Australia Post has failed to outline a clear strategic direction on how it intends to deal with the challenges resulting from the emergence of the digital economy,” Healey says.
“It is time Australia Post worked with industry stakeholders and the community to develop a clear strategic direction for the future of mail services rather than misleading the Australian public on the continuing effectiveness and demand for traditional mail.
“Greater oversight is required of the management of Australia Post to ensure that a significant public asset is not irreparably damaged.”
Alliance members will meet with key independent MPs and senators in Canberra this week to lay out their vision for Australia Post’s future.
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