Australia Post prices rise, with warnings of more to come
The cost of sending parcels and express mail, along with some Post Offices services, will increase on 3 July.
Australia Post has announced a raft of price rises, with parcel delivery set to go up by as much as 9.5% next month.
While the price of an ordinary stamp won’t rise, it’s bad news for people who want to send parcels both within Australia and overseas.
It also marks a further erosion in service from the national mail service, whose regular deliveries have slowed down in recent years.
Businesses that use the mail services will be hard hit, with one operator telling Seven News they would have difficulty absorbing the new costs.
In a statement on its website, Australia Post said, “As a self-funded business enterprise, these changes are necessary to help meet growing costs which outweigh the current price of our products and services.”
From 3 July, prices for the following retail services will change:
- Domestic parcels.
- International parcels and letters.
- Business mail.
- Unaddressed Mail services.
- Mail Hold and Redirection.
- Photo ID services.
The statement added that Express Post Platinum, local parcels within 50km, and Express Post Saturday delivery will no longer be available.
A small pre-paid parcel satchel will increase in cost from $9.95 to $10.90. A small Express Post satchel will rise from $12.95 to $14.40, while a standard sized Express Post letter will go from $7.80 to $8.55.
Redirection will now cost $176.75 ($106.05 for concession card holders), while photo ID charges have increased from $19.95 to $21.95.
The good news for many seniors is that concession-priced stamps will remain at 60 cents and seasonal greeting stamps will still be 65 cents.
These prices apply for holders of Pensioner Concession Cards, Health Care Cards (all types), Commonwealth Seniors Health Cards, Department of Veterans' Affairs Cards, and Veterans' Repatriation Health Cards.
Australia Post expects to report a loss this financial year. In the past six months alone, its letters business has lost $190 million.
Blaming inflation and high global fuel prices for the latest changes, the company has not ruled out further price increases in the future.
Executive general manager Gary Starr said, “We do know that inflation will continue to be challenging in the coming months.”
Australia Post is also waiting for a government response to its modernisation review, which recently undertook public consultation.
Related reading: Australia Post statement, Seven News, SMH
