Printing Industries has launched a national campaign to win political support for reforms to Australia Post. The campaign, the result of months of planning and research, comes as Post applies to the ACCC for its biggest yet increase in bulk mail and postage fees.
Printing Industries CEO Jason Allen said Post was showing a total disregard of its stakeholders and continued to ignorere commendations of the Senate Inquiry into the Performance, Importance and Role of Australia Post that raised concerns about the growing divide between Post and these key groups.
“The price increase issues are a major concern and they are the tip of an iceberg threatening the future viability of the entire mailing industry and all the associated sectors whose economic livelihoods are under threat by Post’s blindsiding tactics,” he said.
“Post has consistently failed to consult and to make an economic and social business case substantiating its actions. It has failed to highlight any improvements and benefits that businesses would be expected to provide their clients with accompanying any price increase.
“We believe it has failed to meet the criteria of the Australian Government’s Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA). It has avoided quantifying the impacts of its actions across the community and failed to provide economic and social evaluation in monetary terms of its proposed actions.”
Allen said it was the duty of the Parliament to hold Post to account and the Printing Industries inspired campaign was geared to achieve just that.
“Printing Industries along with key industry stakeholders, has commissioned the research, done the homework and prepared the math that politicians around the country need to see to understand what has been going on and to expose the erroneous pathway that Post is on.
“From the end of this week politicians around the country will be receiving our report on the Economic Contribution of the Australian Mailing Industry and our plea to pull this monopolistic, national service provider into line and into compliance.
“Members of Parliament need to understand the consequences of Posts actions on the employment of as many as 150,000 people who contribute $14.1 billion in Gross Value Added to the Australian economy not just the 30,000 people Australia Post employs,” he said.
The mailing campaign to politicians will be followed by meetings with mailhouse representatives next week in Sydney and Melbourne as part of the ‘call to action’ encouraging the industry lobby every politician to support the campaign. A significant submission will be prepared when the ACCC calls for feedback on the proposals.
“No decision has been made on pricing by the ACCC, but this time they will have a substantial amount of new information and a very large and very angry industry demanding compliance, transparency and consultation before any decisions on Post’s submissions are made.
“The mailing industry understands the challenges it faces by the rise of the digital economy. These challenges must be dealt with by all stakeholders working collaboratively and will not be effectively met by repeated prices increases from Australia Post.
“We call on the government to urgently implement all of the Senate Committees’ recommendations not just those related to Licenced Post Offices,” Allen said.