Australia Post has announced a one percent fuel surcharge on domestic and international parcels and international letters. The Sydney Morning Herald has details.
Given that newspaper home delivery drivers are paid under an award relating to transport, newsagents should have the capacity to pass on cost increases, such as the fuel hikes which have hit since the newspaper distribution fee structure was last set.
While there has been some movement in some states, it has nowhere near kept up with the increase in fuel costs.
This situation where distribution newsagents have no reasonable business levers with which to manage the profitability of their business condemns them to shoulder an unfair burden in the cost of getting newspapers to subscribers.
Like Australia Post and other transportation, distribution newsagents, local transportation companies, need the right and capacity to pass on cost increases to those who use their services.
I bet newspaper publishers factor in cost increases when they set their advertising rates.
An interesting point.
Previous occupation (agriculture) saw our transport company introduce a freight levy that was tied to the cost of fuel.
That was more than 7 years ago.