Section | Improvements Implemented Since Last IAP | Current Entry Requirements | Further Improvements Planned |
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Operational Requirements
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In 1998 the Government made a number of decisions relating to reform of the postal sector in response to the review of the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989 by the National Competition Council. The Government has taken a number of steps to implement 1998 decisions. The decisions covered a range of matters, and the implementation was divided between non-legislative and legislative measures. A number of the non-legislative matters have already been implemented (see Current Entry Requirements)
There was a broadening of bulk mail services supplied by Australia Post to include mail aggregated from various sources before being lodged with Australia Post.
| Principal Regulatory Instruments .Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989 Australia's Postal Regulatory Regime The Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989 (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/apca1989337/ ) provides for the establishment of the Australian Postal Corporation (http://www.auspost.com.au). It sets out the powers and functions of Australia Post and its reporting obligations. The Act also sets out the limits of Australia Post's monopoly over the delivery of letters and its community service obligations. This monopoly is limited to letters weighing up to and including 250 grams and charged at less than four times the standard letter rate (1.80) The Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (http://www.dcita.gov.au/text_welcome.html) is responsible for postal policy and oversight of the activities of Australia Post. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission http://www.accc.gov.au deals with pricing, competition, and consumer protection aspects of the postal industry, partly through its enforcement of the Trade Practices Act 1974. A number of elements of the 1998 decision involved non-legislative measures, which have already been implemented. These measures include: - discounts for major mailers using barcodes on mail lodged in bulk with Australia Post; - the implementation of an industry code of practice for the treatment of bulk mail lodged with Australia Post. The legislative measures were contained in the Postal Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2000, which was introduced into Parliament in April 2000. The main purpose of the Bill was to improve the quality and price of services provided to consumers by promoting opportunities for competition in the postal services market. The Bill would have, among other changes, reduced Australia Post’s monopoly. The Bill was withdrawn from the Parliament in April 2001, as it did not attract the support necessary for passage. |
No further improvements planned.
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Licensing and Qualification Requirements of Service Providers
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No improvements implemented since the last IAP.
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Australia Post provides a monopoly service. This monopoly is limited to letters weighing up to and including 250 grams and charged at less than four times the standard letter rate (1.80).
Hence there are no licensing or qualification requirements.
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No changes planned. Australia Post will remain in full public ownership.
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Foreign Entry
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No improvements implemented since the last IAP.
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The relevant legislation, the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989, does not distinguish between domestic and foreign service providers. It imposes regulatory limits on competition which apply to any service provider.
The main provisions are Section 29, which grants Australia Post the exclusive right to carry letters within Australia (whether the letters originate in Australia or overseas). See Operational Requirements for further details.
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No further improvements planned.
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Discriminatory Treatment/ MFN
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No improvements implemented since the last IAP.
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Australia applies the MFN principle in the communications sector. See also Foreign Entry.
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No further improvements planned.
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