The coalition will also have the support of the Media Federation of Australia and the Australian Marketing Institute, with an inaugural meeting set to take place in early November.

The initiative is part of a new-found alliance between Publishers Australia and Australia Post following the recent controversy over magazine mailing price increases.

Publishers Australia said in a statement that the two organisations “have committed to an improved price review communication program that will provide the industry body more time to discuss and put cases forward with regard to any proposed print post price increases in the future”.

Printing Industries joined the chorus of disapproval in June over Australia Post’s decision to institute a 4.6 per cent price rise for publishers posting magazines, urging Australia Post to review its own costs before raising prices.

Publishers Australia is also advising publishers that Australia Post currently has an incentive program encouraging ‘volume stretch’ for publications mailed between now and December 1. As part of the program, publishers may qualify for a discount of up to 20 per cent off standard Print Post postage rates.

Publishers Australia has described the new alliance as mutually beneficial.

“With ROI becoming a defining factor for most marketers today, they are turning more and more to niche, focused magazines,” said Publishers Australia chair Geoff Hird. “Covering custom, specialist consumer and business-to-business, our membership has been much misunderstood in the past by marketers and media buyers. We see this alliance as a great opportunity to change perceptions and raise awareness of the true value our members can bring to the marketing table.”

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