Maranoa MP secures win for regional business facing e-Parcel price increase
August 25, 2020Federal Member for Maranoa David Littleproud has urged bush businesses to review their postal rates to make sure they’re getting a fair deal after the rural MP called out Australia Post for slapping country customers with unfair prices.
“A local business owner showed me their Australia Post contract, clearly illustrating large inconsistencies in pricing between regional and capital city parcel postage – an appalling discrepancy which puts bush businesses on the back foot, especially during COVID when customers are looking to online purchases,” Mr Littleproud said.
“I got Australia Post and the small business owner in the same room and Australia Post agreed to a better postage rate – this is a win but how many other rural businesses are out there copping this cost increase on the chin? I’m calling for Maranoa businesses to review their postage rates and contact me if they’re getting a raw deal so I can help to replicate this success and get a better postage deal for other rural businesses”.
Mr Littleproud said the Maranoa business owner showed him their parcel cost increase for regional, rural and remote areas increased 20 to 40%, not the 13.49% Australia Post suggested.
“He detailed one example where it was cheaper to post a 10kg parcel across Australia from Brisbane to Adelaide – a 2004km distance – than it was post the same parcel down the road 417km from Warwick to Tamworth merely because the ‘capital rate’ is much cheaper compared with the ‘remote rate’ – this is rubbish and I won’t stand for it,” he said.
Australia Post has committed to review its pricing architecture to support all businesses as a result of Mr Littleproud’s advocacy.
“I’ll always fight for our bush businesses to ensure they receive fair treatment. This is just one example of a decision made in the city that unfairly impacted regional and rural businesses,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Bush businesses have already endured countless financial hurdles through drought and Covid-19, and are now potentially facing a huge mark-up on postage, seemingly based purely on their location.
“Australia Post indicated this individual contract was not reflective of wider regional areas, but I question why it was structured in a way that benefits the city and punishes the bush in the first place.
“I contacted Australia Post to raise my concerns and to try to get an understanding of why this contract showed such different rates for regional sending compared to capital sending.
“As a result of my representation, Australia Post offered this particular business an improved rate for his regional to regional sending and have reduced price points from 152 to 24 – I now ask other small businesses to check their contracts too to make sure they’re not being taken for a ride by Australia Post”.
View by month
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016