Printing Industry’s top team of Andrew Macaulay, CEO and Mary Jo (MJ) Fisher, director of government relationships, strongly lobbied Senator Mitch Fifield, Minister for Communications, (pictured) on the unsatisfactory behaviour by Australia Post towards the industry.
Citing reports that the mail monopoly is consulting with the printing and mailing industry ahead of its latest price hike, Macaulay dismisses the claim as “disingenuous” and accuses Australia Post of “playing hardball with dissenters” as it tries to avoid criticism. He has resurrected the Major Mail Users Association this week to help unify the sector in its demand for real consultation in the ongoing battle against mail price rises now running at almost double the rate of inflation.
“There has been zero consultation from Australia Post apart from letters marked ‘confidential’ to individual businesses. This has the effect of discouraging members from sharing the information,” said Macaulay.
He criticises the timing of the latest price increase coming less than six months since Ahmed Fahour, CEO Australia Post, promised there would be no price rises until the middle of next year. “When you consider how the Government is calling on the banks to be more transparent in their business dealings, how can they condone the behaviour of their own monopoly in its abuse of market power?”
On its website Australia Post has the following with regard to the latest increases. Price changes are never easy for anyone. We want to reassure you that the domestic basic postage rate of $1 (60c for MyPost concession card holders) will remain the same. As will our discounted seasonal Christmas card rate for domestic and international cards during November/December.
By making these changes, we're ensuring the long-term viability of your mail and parcel delivery network; a network where we reach more Australians than any other company, through our 11.5 million delivery points and over 4,000 Post Offices.
Macaulay is lobbying for the issue to be raised next week at the Senate Estimates committee and sees continuing government engagement as a vital part of the Association’s role. A meeting is being sought with Fahour to forcibly put the industry position. Macaulay believes the printing industry must have a seat at the table when any mail price rises are discussed.
“Australia Post’s claim to be working with the industry is wrong. What they’re telling Minister Fifield is disingenuous; there is no consultation, rather it’s ‘we’ll tell you what’s going to happen.’ It’s not good enough,” he said.
The vigorous revival of the Association’s focus on the relationship between the printing industry and Federal Government, saw Macaulay and Fisher meeting with 15 members of the Government to canvass a broad range of issues relevant to the printing industry. Apart from the meeting with Minister Fifield they also engaged with Greg Hunt, Minister for Innovation as well as Senator Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education and Training, and Paul Fletcher, Minister for Infrastructure.
In a meeting with Michael McCormack, Minister for Small Business (and the census), they were promised further consultation on any development of the transitioning from paper census to digital.
“Prime Minister Turnbull is fixated on ‘innovation.’ Well, the printing industry is a prime example of an industry innovating at great speed to meet changing conditions. There are thirty five hundred small to medium-sized enterprises in printing with a total of six thousand directly engaged in the industry. We’re not subsidised, our market is open to competition both domestically and internationally. We’re technologically developed with a skilled workforce. As the largest manufacturing employer in the economy we must be taken seriously,” said Macaulay.