Not I says John Howard, the Prime Minister who has allowed, on his 11 year watch, Australia Post to considerably expand, through its government owned retail stores, its reach into retail categories previously served well by independent small business newsagents.
Not I says Helen Coonan, Minister responsible for Australia Post, who ducks behind the legislation as the reason her hands are tied. Apparently controlling both houses of parliament does not give the minister to go against Australia Post management or the Government’s desire fro profits from their monopoly based corporate-store retail operation.
Not I says Fran Bailey, minister for Small Business in the current government who stands behind Minister Coonan and everything she says about the legislation allowing Australia Post to compete directly with small business newsagents.
Not I says Kevin Rudd who remains silent on this issue of vital importance to the thousands of working families connected with newsaegcnies as owners, employees and suppliers.
This Government took away the one monopoly newsagents had in 1999. It did so without compensation. Ignoring overseas best practice on competition policy, it has continued to protect Australia Post and has sat on its hands while Australia Post management has aggressively and deliberately targeted the weakened newsagency channel.
Newsagents are not big news. People this they are rich and can fight for themselves. Sure, we can fight, but we need a level playing field. When it comes to the Australia Post corporate stores this is not the case. They have monopoly protection and and they levearge this to get further and further into the newsagency space.
Do politicians care about small business? I suspect not. Sure some are great at beating their chest and saying they are friends of small business and friends of newsagents. These noisy folk need to be asked for proof. I can’t find it.
The photo is from the Government owned Post Office opposite my Forest Hill newsagency this morning. This shop sucks people in with products and services protected by the legislation and pitches cards, books, stationery – all manner of things – while the poor blighters are stuck in a line waiting to get to the counter. Yep, this is the Government’s small business policy on show for all to see.