The ACCC was given the power to issue record-keeping rules in response to complaints by Australia Post’s competitors that Australia Post was cross-subsidising its competitive services with revenues from its monopoly services.

“The regulatory accounts do not show that Australia Post is cross-subsidising its competitive services with revenue from its monopoly services,” ACCC chairman Rod Sims said.

“In fact, the 2010-11 report found Australia Post’s non-monopoly services as a whole were a source of subsidy,” Mr Sims said.

The full report can be downloaded from the ACCC website.

The ACCC has expressed concern that fuel price sharing arrangements between fuel retailers lessens price competition in petrol retailing to the detriment of consumers.

According to the ACCC, the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act prohibit contracts, arrangements or understandings that have the purpose, effect or likely effect of substantially lessening competition.

Shadow Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs Minister Bruce Billson said the announcement was welcome news but expressed doubt that any investigations would result in a positive result for consumers.

“There have been numerous investigations into petrol pricing yet the problems remain the same,” Mr Billson said today.

The ACCC anticipates that the investigation will take some time.

Licensees came from all over the Brisbane area to attend the POAAL meeting

POAAL CEO Ian Kerr hosted the meeting, and led an interactive session on a range of topics, including:

• Carded articles
• Digital MailBox
• Overweight and oversize parcels
• Discounting of retail stock
• Passport interviews

Licensees raised a number of important issues for POAAL to take up with Australia Post at State and National meetings.

There was also a trade display from Fly Guy Brands, distributors of Slap Watches.

Australia Post's Steve Ryan and Jim Watson with POAAL's Dennis Jenner

Steve updated Licensees on automated parcel collection lockers and PO Box parcel collection lockers.  Jim answered questions on LPO security. Licensees were also given an update on how national OHS laws might affect their businesses.

POAAL CEO Ian Kerr then led a wide-ranging discussion, including:

• Outward mail processing
• CEPOS
• Western Union
• AUSTRAC
• Mail Management Fee
• Digital Mailbox

Bob Chizzoniti with Licensees at POAAL's Meet 'n Eat at the Campbelltown RSL

POAAL’s Bob Chizzoniti hosted the meeting.  Licensees joined in a wide-ranging discussion of matters, including:

• CEPOS
• Hand-held scanners (PDTs)
• Carded articles
• OHS in LPOs
• Supply of stock and stores
• OMPF and clearing SPBs

Licensees are still reporting problems with the supply of stock, including delivery dockets not being received with stock and incomplete orders.

The new Newton Step Van in FedEx colours

The Newton Step Van features a customised walk-in body and a range of up to 160km.

A recent study conducted by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA found that electric vehicles can cost 9 to 12 percent less to operate than trucks powered by diesel engines, when used to make deliveries on an everyday basis in big cities.

Bob Chizzoniti with Licensees at the Bankstown Meet 'n Eat

Bob Chizzoniti hosted the meeting and led discussions on a wide range of topics, including:

• Workplace health and safety
• Supply issues for stock and stores
• Australia Post’s new Digital Mailbox service
• Overweight and oversize parcels
• Carded parcel issues

There will be more Meet ‘n Eat meetings for Licensees in NSW in April.

POAAL CEO Ian Kerr with Minister for Communications, Senator Stephen Conroy

This afternoon POAAL representatives met with Senator Stephen Conroy, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

We took the opportunity to talk to the Minister about some of the issues specific to Mail & Parcel Contractors and Messenger Post Contractors. Contractors face a number of challenges at the moment, including volatile fuel prices and rising operating costs.

The Minister took note in particular of some of our concerns relating to Messenger Post Contractors. We look forward to discussing these issues further with the Minister’s office.

POAAL meets regularly with the Minister face-to-face – it gives us a great opportunity to press the case for our members’ interests at the highest level. We also stay in frequent contact with his advisors.

POAAL CEO Ian Kerr with Minister for Communications, Senator Stephen Conroy

This afternoon POAAL representatives met with Senator Stephen Conroy, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

We raised a number of issues with the Minster, including:

• Composition of the Australia Post Board, and the importance of industry experience at the governance level;
• The sale of Post Logistics and the impact on Licensees;
• The growth in parcel volumes, especially inbound international parcels;
• Prices surveillance of business mail; and
• OH&S obligations.

POAAL meets regularly with the Minister face-to-face – it gives us a great opportunity to press the case for our members’ interests at the highest level.  We also stay in frequent contact with his advisors.

Current Courier membership and insurance falls due on 31 March 2011.

POAAL’s courier members can access group insurance rates for public liability insurance, marine cargo insurance, personal accident insurance and hand-held scanner insurance.

Other insurances, such as workers compensation and vehicle insurance, are available through Australian-owned insurance brokers GWS Network. GWS Network can be contacted on 1300 881 229.

If you are a courier and you would like to know more about POAAL’s services for couriers, please contact the POAAL National Office on (03) 96544533 or contact us through our online expression of interest form.