Most people think of Australia Post for sending mail. But in truth that’s just one of the many things we do for business.
From the Australia Post business services website.
Australia Post is saying don’t think of us as a mail service, think of us as your stationery supplier, your printer, your fulfillment service. This mocks the Postal Corporation Act 1989. Section 14 requires Australia Post to provide a postal service first and foremost:
The principal function of Australia Post is to supply postal services within Australia and between Australia and places outside Australia.
Section 15 talks about permitted subsidiary functions:
A subsidiary function of Australia Post is to carry on, outside Australia, any business or activity relating to postal services.
Section 16 talks about other permitted functions:
Functions—incidental businesses and activities
(1) The functions of Australia Post include the carrying on, within or outside Australia, of any business or activity that is incidental to: (a) the supplying of postal services under section 14; or (b) the carrying on of any business or activity under section 15.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the functions of Australia Post include the carrying on, within or outside Australia, of any business or activity that is capable of being conveniently carried on: (a) by the use of resources that are not immediately required in carrying out Australia Post’s principal or subsidiary function; or (b) in the course of: (i) supplying postal services under section 14; or (ii) carrying on any business or activity under section 15.
On this government’s watch Australia Post has taken millions of dollars in revenue from small business. The situation is getting worse.
While farmers fight the effects of the drought, newsagents have to also content with the impact of our own government taking sales from our registers. At least farmers get financial relief from the government. Maybe that is being paid out of dividends paid by Australia Post.