PVCA BUILDING AUSPOST MAIL COALITION FOR UNITED INDUSTRY RESPONSE
The Print and Visual Communication Association is forming a Mail Industry Coalition, to develop a united industry response to the Government Consultation into modernising Australia’s postal service provision.
Following the latest disastrous figures for letters from Australia Post, which revealed it was losing more than $1m a day on the service, the government released a discussion paper on its future, with question marks once again sitting over its obligation to provide daily letter deliveries.
In response, the PVCA is hoping to formalise an industry-wide Mail Industry Coalition by this Friday, 17 March, and is aiming to host 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
Commentary since the half year figures were released, and AusPost CEO Paul Graham publicly questioned the future of letters, has included suggestions of reduced delivery timetables, re-assessment of the number of post office box collection points and other regulatory compliance obligations Australia Post believe are no longer commercially feasible.
Michelle Rowland, minister for communications, has now written to the PVCA, seeking insights and submissions to assist the postal service review and looking to future solutions. Submissions are due on the 27 April.
“In the first instance it’s important to note, 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,” commented Kellie Northwood, CEO, PVCA.
The PVCA, under the former TRMC, has established a Mail Industry Coalition previously when challenging Basic Postage Rate increases, as well as the Publishing Coalition formed 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 achieved by the PVCA/TRMC coalition groups in agreement with Australia Post to build Business Mail incentives.
This consultation, it is argued, 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. 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,” said Northwood.
The print and mail industries have had a complicated relationship with Australia Post for many years, however the new initiative and the communication from the new minister look set to take that relationship to a better place.