AUSPOST REVERSES UAM SUSPENSION

In a stunning reversal, Australia Post has backflipped on its contentious decision to suspend unaddressed mail (UAM) in the pre-Christmas period.

As a result, unaddressed mail will now be processed from 2 December to 13 December, with delivery taking place by 20 December across a Standard service window.

The print and mail industries were enraged by the original decision, made two weeks ago, as Australia Post decided it wanted to switch resources to its parcels business.

The Visual Media Association (VMA), had been advocating strongly for the reinstatement of the essential service, in discussions with Australia Post and in correspondence with MPs, including the Minister for Communications, and has welcomed Australia Post's compromise to deliver unaddressed mail during the first two weeks of December.

The reversal comes as a significant win for the industry, ensuring critical marketing material, community information and political resources reach households in time for Christmas.

“We work with Australia Post across many matters and feedback was issued into our lead contact points outlining the concerns of industry. I welcome Australia Posts’s consideration of our concerns, and its internal review of the original announcement,” commented Kellie Northwood, CEO, VMA.

Recent research, commissioned by the VMA, indicated that 61 per cent of Australians prefer to receive local government material via the letterbox to stay informed about community matters.

Throughout the summer period, these notices are deemed critical to regional citizens. “Suspending unaddressed mail would have disproportionately impacted regional Australians during a crucial communication period and as a broader community, the discussions with government is to understand the national reach to every home that the Letterbox provides,” said Northwood.

December is also a peak season for retail communications, with 34 per cent of the print and letterbox customer base coming from the retail sector.

Northwood said, “Unaddressed mail plays a vital role in facilitating political discourse, keeping Australians informed in times of emergency, and assisting budgeting families during the cost of living crisis."

The VMA is currently promoting Mail through its recently launched Open Up to Mail campaign, which is hosting industry insight sessions in Melbourne with independent research commissioned to understand the role of mail in the modern era.

“The widespread concern from customers, elected officials, retailers, emergency service providers and local government reflected how important the letterbox channel remains to Australians,” Northwood added.

The VMA had called for at least a one-week delivery window in December, outlining the importance of essential communications across the December period. “The decision to open a December delivery window for unaddressed mail is a compromise to ensure all Australians are included across vital communications,” said Northwood.