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The 2004 federal election is over, the Coalition has been returned to Government and all that remains now is for a few tight contests and Senate seats to be decided. Many thanks to all those Licensees and Mail Contractors who lobbied candidates during the election campaign, reminding them of the valuable work done by people who are contracted to Australia Post.
POAAL also lobbied strongly during the campaign and it was good to see that the major parties acknowledged the work put in by Licensees and Mail Contractors.
We note that the Coalition, which has been returned to parliament, pledged to keep Australia Post in public ownership. The Coalition says it remains committed to the current regulatory arrangements and has no intention of introducing any further postal deregulation.
POAAL also notes the Coalition's commitment to securing passage of the Postal Industry Ombudsman Bill 2004. POAAL fully supports the introduction of the PIO.
We will be following the Coalition's small business paper Promoting an Enterprise Culture with a great deal of interest.
The Coalition has advised us that they "...look forward to continuing [their] positive and constructive working relationship with POAAL in the future."
We appreciate the work done by various MPs supporting the role of Licensees and Mail Contractors over the past parliamentary term. POAAL will be doing its best to ensure that all re-elected and new members of parliament are made aware of the role of the people that the current Minister for Communications, Senator Helen Coonan, called "the backbone of the postal industry" and "a key part of the postal sector and [who] have an important role to play not only in delivering postal services but also within the communities in which they operate."
We will introduce ourselves to the relevant portfolio holders now that the Cabinet has been announced by the Prime Minister. POAAL will continue to lobby and work for Licensees, Mail Contractors and Postal Agents.
