Australia Post

The Sydney General Post Office circa 1900

A pillar box in Marrickville, Sydney

Before colonial control of mail started in 1809, mail was usually passed on by ad hoc arrangements made between transporters, storekeepers and settlers. These arrangements were flexible, and inherently unstable. It was common for early settlers to ride many miles out of their way to deliver neighbours' mail that had been collected from informal distribution points.[5]

The first organisation of a postal service in Australia commenced in 1809 with the appointment in Sydney of the first postmaster. An English ex-convict, Isaac Nichols, took the post operating from his home in George Street, Sydney. His main job was to take charge of letters and parcels arriving by ship, to avoid the chaos of people rushing aboard ships as soon as they arrived at Sydney's wharves. Nichols would pick up the mail and post a list of recipients outside his house.[6] He would advertise in the Sydney Gazette the names of all those who received mail. Recipients paid a fixed price of one shilling per letter to collect mail from Nichols' home, with parcels costing more depending on how heavy they were. VIP addressees were afforded personal delivery by Nichols.[7]

Between 1812 and 1842, postmasters were also appointed in Tasmania (1812), Western Australia (1829), Victoria (1836), South Australia (1837), and Queensland (1842). Settlements outside of the postmasters' domain were serviced by contractors on horsebacks or in coaches.[8]

In 1825, the New South Wales Legislative Council passed the Postal Act which transferred responsibility from Nichols, acting as a private company, to the governor. The governor would then set the wage of the postmaster and the cost of collecting mail.

Following federation in 1901, the colonial mail systems were merged into the Postmaster-General's Department (PMG). This body was responsible for telegraph and domestic telephone operations as well as postal mail. An airmail service was introduced in 1914.[7] In 1967, 4-digit postcodes in Australia were introduced, in addition to the world's first mechanical processing centre, which garnered international attention.[9]

On 1 July 1975, separate government commissions were created to undertake the operational responsibilities of the PMG. One of these was the Australian Postal Commission. It later became the Australian Postal Corporation on 1 January 1989 when it was corporatised into what is now known as the Australian Postal Corporation, or Australia Post.

Under amendments to the Australian Postal Corporation Act which came into effect in March 2008, quarantine inspection officers of a state or territory are authorised to request Australia Post to open packets and parcels sent from interstate for inspection when inspectors believe they may contain quarantine material. The legislation also authorises Australia Post to remove any mail articles that are suspected of being scam mail.[10]

In February 2010, Ahmed Fahour was appointed MD and CEO of Australia Post.[11] In May 2010, he announced a new strategy dubbed "Future Ready" designed to reinvigorate Australia Post. This included a new organisation structure as well as a renewed foray into digital businesses under the "eServices" Strategic Business Unit.[12]

However, in 2013, the corporation acknowledged that, though the strategy was successful in improving Australia Post's profitability and structure, it was insufficient in its contributions to their development as a financially self-sustaining business.[13]

In September 2015, the corporation announced its first loss in 30 years. The A$222 million loss was down from a $116 million profit the previous year. Large decreases in addressed and stamped mail led to a $381 million loss in the mail delivery side of the business. Parcel delivery then accounted for over half of total revenue. Overall revenue was stable at $6.37 billion.[3]

In August the following year, Australia Post returned to profit with strong parcel and courier performance, and organisation re-structuring. However, mail performance reached an all-time low.

In February 2017, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull criticised CEO Ahmed Fahour's $5.6 million annual salary, saying "As the Prime Minister and a taxpayer, I've spoken to the chairman today. I think that salary, that remuneration, is too high."[14] On 23 February 2017, Fahour announced his resignation, effective July 2017, telling media that the decision was not related to discussion of his salary.[15]

In October 2019, Australia Post completed a major rebranding project with Melbourne-based brand strategy firm Maud. This project saw the development of a new brand identity, website and self-service platform, parcel and letter packaging, street posting boxes, staff uniforms, and a fleet of custom-designed electric vehicles, amongst others.[16]

• Lucio Di Bartolomeo (Chairman)[22]

• Christine Holgate (Managing Director & Group CEO) [Resigned on 2/11/2020]
• Andrea Staines (Deputy Chair)
• Mario D'Orazio
• Bruce McIver
• Tony Nutt
• Michael Ronaldson
• Jan West
• Deidre Willmott

Empty cells have no data available for that year. All results as at 30 June of the year indicated.

In June 2015 Australia Post announced that in view of mounting losses, and especially the accelerating decline in its letter delivery service, it would reduce its workforce by 1,900 over three years through voluntary redundancies. At the time, mail delivery losses were approaching $500 million for the 2014–15 financial year.[48]

Australia Post collects, processes and distributes letters for the entire Australian community and between Australia and other countries overseas. It also offers bulk mail delivery services for businesses and community organisations and provides research, advice, consumer list rental, and profiling and segmentation services to help businesses target their objectives and customers, along with other associated services.

Post boxes at the Canberra GPO in 2018

While postal services of letters and parcels are one of the original areas of Australia Post, it has also diversified its operations into the provision of other services including agency services, business-to-business integration and logistics and supply chain management (see below).

The basic postage rate for a small letter has increased over the years due to inflation but influenced in recent years by a complex interplay between Australia Post's monopoly over small items, and need to provide service to all Australian addresses at the mandated basic rate.

In July 2009, Australia Post requested the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to approve a stamp price rise in 2010 to 60 cents but the ACCC declined the approval of the price rise, however in April 2010, Australia Post resubmitted the proposed postal stamp rise. The ACCC approved this request on 28 May 2010 and it was published in the Government Gazette on 9 June 2010.[52][53][54]

On 26 December 2013, due to the heavy decline in mail usage due to competition from email, etc., Australia Post requested an increase in the base rate to 70c.[55]

On 4 January 2016, due to the heavy decline in mail usage due to competition from email, etc., Australia Post requested an increase in the base rate to $1.00.

As of 1 February 2020, the base rate for domestic letters is now $1.10.[56]

•   1d – 1911
•   2d – 1920
•   3d – 1950
•   5d – 1959
•   4¢ – 1966 (Introduction of decimal currency)
•   5¢ – 1967
•   6¢ – 1970
•   7¢ – 1971
• 10¢ – 1974
• 18¢ – 1975
• 20¢ – 1978
• 22¢ – 1980
• 24¢ – 1981
• 27¢ – 1982
• 30¢ – 1983
• 33¢ – 1985
• 36¢ – 1986
• 37¢ – 1987
• 39¢ – 1988
• 41¢ – 1989[57]
• 43¢ – 1990 (effective 3 September 1990)
• 45¢ – 1992 (effective 2 January 1992)[58]
• 45¢ – 2000 (effective 1 July 2000. With the introduction of the GST, the postage component was decreased to absorb the new GST cost, so for the public there was no change in stamp prices. For businesses the GST claimable component of the postage rate was 4¢, leaving a reduced cost to business users of just 41¢.
• 50¢ – 2003 (effective 13 January 2003)[59]
• 55¢ – 2008 (effective 1 September 2008)
• 60¢ – 2010 (effective 28 June 2010)
• 70¢ – 2014 (effective 31 March 2014)[60]
• $1.00 – 2016 (effective 4 January 2016)[21]
• $1.10 – current (effective 1 February 2020)[56]

Since about 2005, larger letters have been charged a round multiple of the base postage rate, which is helpful to customers if they do not have stocks of the more expensive stamps.

• 260 x 360 x 20mm – Up to 125g – $2.20[61]
• 260 x 360 x 20mm – Up to 250g – $3.30[61]
• 260 x 360 x 20mm – Up to 500g – $5.50[61]

A large letter, including packaging, cannot be more than 20mm thick or larger than 260x360mm, otherwise it will be considered a parcel, which as of 2019 costs a minimum of $8.30 (up to 500 grams).[62]

Agency services: Australia Post provides third-party agency services that connect consumers, businesses and government bodies such as bill payment services, banking services and identity services. Australia Post also offers personal finance products, such as car and travel insurance[63] and currency conversion.

Retail Merchandise: A variety of complementary products, packaging products, collectibles and post office boxes and locked bags are offered across the network of Australia Post outlets in Australia.

Australia Post postal lockers located next to the Annandale Post Office, Booth Street, Annandale, NSW, Australia. Customers can retrieve parcels 24 hours a day with a PIN.

Australia Post collects, processes and delivers single parcels or multi-parcel consignments all across Australia and internationally. It also provides complete end-to-end supply chain capabilities, from manufacturer (domestic or international) to consumer with integrated logistics services and a broad range of distribution options to track and trace deliveries.

Australia Post offers a number of digital services outside of their main mail/parcel/logistics area. These include employment screening,[64] online payment services[65] and a digital identity platform.[66]

Australia Post now offers parcel lockers at over 330 locations near Post Offices, supermarkets and train stations. These lockers are free to use for Australia Post deliveries. Once delivered, the package must be picked up within 48 hours.[67]

A Toyota HiAce with StarTrack Courier Van lettering

On 23 December 2003, Australia Post and Qantas went into a joint venture to acquire StarTrack from the company's founder, Greg Poche.

On 18 May 2011 it was announced the merger of the retail division of Australian airExpress (AaE) with StarTrack. StarTrack will be a solely retail-focused business and AaE will focus solely on domestic air linehaul and cargo terminal operations. The changes follow a review of the businesses guided by AUX Investments, a company established in 2010 to guide the review and provide streamlined governance across the businesses.[68]

In November 2012, Australia Post bought the 50% of the company owned by Qantas. As part of the deal, Australia Post divested itself of its 50% interest in Australian airExpress to Qantas.[69][70]

On 7 May 2014, StarTrack was rebranded to include Australia Post Post horn in the StarTrack blue colours. StarTrack also took responsibility of Australia Post's "Messenger Post couriers" under the StarTrack brand as "StarTrack Courier"[71]

Australia Post has had a long and difficult relationship with the Communication Workers Union. The union has claimed that contractors provide a poor parcel delivery service, with a newspaper reporting anecdotes of unsatisfactory performance during the peak Christmas period, including a propensity to insert "delivery failure" cards into mailboxes rather than attempting delivery of packages, thus requiring the customer to travel to their local post office to collect items personally. These delivery drivers are usually contractors as opposed to actual Australia Post employees.[72]

The relationship between Australia Post and its franchised retail outlets, being the Licensed Post Offices (LPOs) and Community Postal Agencies (CPAs), has had claims of unsustainable business practices made by individuals and the LPO Group,[73] before the Australian Senate undertook an inquiry in 2014. A unanimous report from the inquiry resulted in a range of outcomes and recommendations, including some increased payments and the establishment of an independently chaired stakeholder forum.[74][75]

In May 2015 Australia Post had a legal battle with Sendle, a transnational courier using the slogan "Post without the office". Australia Post claimed that the term was deceptively similar to their trademark and what they stand for. Sendle argued that there was no similarity and that in fact, they were differentiating from Australia Post. Two years were spent in the trademark dispute, which resulted in Sendle winning the case.[76]