It has been announced that Australia Post will start to deliver parcels on Saturdays and extend guaranteed next-day Express Post letter and satchel delivery to households six days a week from the end of the year. In addition to the extra day of delivery, Australia Post corporate outlets will also open on Saturdays nationwide.
“The extension of weekend trading is a direct response to customer demand. Our customers have told us that they would like to see more services from us and this is the next step in growing our offering to meet those expectations,” said Australia Post Managing Director & CEO Ahmed Fahour.
Mr Fahour explained that in addition to six days a week access to home delivery and stores, Australia Post has free access to online shopping Parcel Lockers that are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week across Australia in over 160 locations.
“The Digital Mailbox provides free of charge access to your mail from many providers including Telstra, AMP, Sydney Water, Yarra Valley Water, Brisbane City Council, on any internet enabled device, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If the mail is a bill, it can be paid directly through your mailbox and then digitally stored securely, free of charge.” Mr Fahour commented.
Mr Fahour however warned that Australia Post was at a critical point where losses from letter services have overtaken the profit made in its commercial parcels and retail services.
“Our projections show that with letter volume declines now accelerating to between 8 and 11 per cent per annum, our letter services, under current momentum, will lose $350 million this year and could grow to over $1 billion annually in losses. Without change and reform to letter services, we do not have the ability to absorb this loss and could, for the first time since corporatisation, become a cost to the government and ultimately the taxpayer.” Mr Fahour commented.