Australia Post Ripoff

Australia Post is in the starting blocks for its own 2008 Olympics to scrap the standard 50c stamp and impose another ripoff on Australian householders and businesses.

Not content with its 11.1% increase in 2003, Australia Post is now badgering the Federal Government to approve another increase, possibly as high as 10% or even more!

This is despite Australia Post's record pre-tax profit of $561.7 million, representing an increase of 8.9 percent over last year.

Australia Post Chairman David Mortimer is squealing like a stuck pig claiming that the price of bulk mail letters has fallen 60% in real terms since 1992.

So what, the price of international telephone calls has fallen enormously in real terms during the same time, exposing Telstra's ripoffs which the people of Australia had endured for years.

Australia Post should not be allowed to have a 22% increase in the basic postage rate in 5 years.

But then Australia Post doesn't care about people, just profits!

The outrageous price rise bid follows hot on the heels of Australia Post's plan to close all of its mail delivery centres in the City of Ipswich at Goodna and Booval, as well as suburban Richlands, Rocklea, Acacia Ridge and Crestmead.

The six delivery centres will be replaced by one, you beaut, supposed state-of-the-art centre at Heathwood.

All of this without any key community consultation, advice or warning to community representatives.

Australia Post Manager Seth Grantley was in the press waxing lyrical about the new facility, claiming there would be no job losses.

There never are in the short term.

But Grantley said nothing about the social dislocation for Australia Post's loyal employees, particularly around Ipswich who have worked locally for many years.

Under this upcoming Australia Post disaster, staff will be forced to travel to Brisbane every day if they want to keep their jobs.

And of course, Australia Post doesn't care about local residents clearly evidenced by ripping the delivery centres out of the heart of local communities.

Based on its latest performance in southeast Queensland alone, Australia Post doesn't deserve an increase in the basic postage rate for its undeserved monopoly.