The Print and Visual Communication Association (PVCA) has formed a Mail Industry Coalition to develop a united industry response to the Government Consultation into modernising Australia’s postal service provision.
Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland wrote to the PVCA seeking insights and submissions to assist the postal service review and looking to future solutions.
“In the first instance, it’s important to note that the Minister’s communication and approach, more broadly from government, is welcomed. The Minister outlines the important role Australia Post and a stable postal service provides across Australian society and we concur,” PVCA CEO Kellie Northwood said.
The government consultation follows recent media from Australia Post reporting that the letters business is in decline and losing millions every year.
Commentary has included suggestions of reduced delivery timetables, re-assessment of the number of post office box collection points and other regulatory compliance obligations that Australia Post said is no longer commercially feasible.
As such, the PVCA, under the former TRMC, established a Mail Industry Coalition previously when challenging basic postage rate increases, as well as the Publishing Coalition during the pandemic to implement immediate postage incentives and relief for publishers unable to distribute through general retail channels.
Incentives across the Charity, Promotional Mail and Pre-Sort sectors have also been previously achieved by the PVCA/TRMC coalition groups in agreement with Australia Post to build Business Mail incentives.
Northwood said this consultation is of greater significance and a wider coalition is being sought to build a consistent approach from industry.
“Since the communication from government and the announcement of the consultation, I have begun discussions with our members and we are building a Mail Industry Coalition to begin roundtable consultations,” Northwood said.
“From there we can develop the key insights we believe valuable to share, collate industry data and develop solutions industry sees as critical to the future sustainability of the letterbox.”
With submissions due on 27 April, the PVCA is hoping to formalise the Mail Industry Coalition by 17 March in hosting the first roundtable session on that date.
For those who wish to be involved in the PVCA Mail Industry Coalition contact: info@pvca.org.au.
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