Recommendations
Recommendation 1
4.86 The committee recommends that Australia Post be
required to submit notifications of changes to the price of business mail
services to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Recommendation 2
4.90 The committee recommends that the Minister for
Communications undertake a thorough examination of cost allocation within
Australia Post and report back to the committee.
Recommendation 3
5.49 The committee recommends that greater commercial
freedoms for Australia Post should be only be considered if this provides
support for the delivery of the community service obligations through a viable
Licensed Post Office network.
Recommendation 4
5.70 The committee recommends that the Commonwealth
Government immediately commission an independent review of the community
service obligations contained in the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989 and
associated regulations.
5.71 In undertaking this review, the committee further
recommends that:
- the future of mail delivery services be assessed;
- the number of retail outlets required in the network
be assessed;
- the effects of any changes to the community services
obligations on Australia Post employees, Licensed Post Offices, Community
Postal Agencies, franchisees and mail contractors be investigated; and
- consideration be given to the needs of remote, rural
and regional communities particularly where other service providers have ceased
to operate.
Recommendation 5
5.92 The committee recommends that, before further or
more complex trusted services are provided through the postal network, the
Minister for Communications consult Australia Post and relevant government
agencies with a view to determining the requirements for the provision of those
services.
5.93 The committee also recommends that Australia Post
undertake consultation with all licensee representative groups in regard to any
additional requirements related to an expansion in the delivery of trusted
services, including training, staffing, shopfront space, technology and
remuneration.
Recommendation 6
5.110 The committee recommends that the Minister for
Communications form a formal postal network strategy group that engages all
stakeholders in the development of a comprehensive strategy to inform changes
to the Australian Post network in the face of emerging challenges.
5.111 The committee further recommends that a broad
community consultation program be implemented.
Recommendation 7
6.51 The committee recommends that, at the request of any
recognised association, Australia Post be required to renegotiate the terms and
conditions of an LPO Agreement.
Recommendation 8
6.79 The committee recommends that Australia Post capture
information relating to 'issues requiring attention' raised under the dispute
resolution process in order to provide early identification of systemic
problems.
Recommendation 9
6.83 The committee recommends that the Australia Post
dispute resolution process should be amended to provide for a more streamlined
process.
Recommendation 10
6.88 The committee recommends that Australia Post provide
further information to licensees and franchisees on the alternative dispute
resolution processes available under the Franchising Code of Conduct.
Recommendation 11
6.129 The committee recommends that the definition of
'Association' in the LPO Agreement be amended to include, in addition to POAAL,
other licensee representative groups including but not limited to the LPO
Group.
Recommendation 12
8.33 The committee recommends that Australia Post, as a
matter of urgency, reassess post office box payments to licensees to ensure
that they reflect the true costs borne by licensees in providing this service.
Recommendation 13
8.80 The committee recommends that Australia Post review
parcel storage requirements in Licensed Post Offices with a view to providing
payments for those licensees who incur additional storage costs.
Recommendation 14
8.96 The committee recommends that Australia Post review
the margins on postal products it sells to licensees with a view to ensure that
margins are in line with commercial practice.
Recommendation 15
8.99 The committee recommends that Australia Post allow
for the return of unsold and out-of-date stamps by licensees and franchisees.
Recommendation 16
8.119 The committee recommends that Australia Post ensure
all employees, in the relevant areas of its corporate network, understand
Australia Post's rules and behavioural expectations in relation to the transfer
of business from Licensed Post Offices to Corporate Post Offices and that
'poaching' and other predatory behaviour is unacceptable.
Recommendation 17
8.141 The committee recommends that the Minister for
Communications, as a matter of urgency, commission an independent audit of the
activities undertaken by the Licensed Post Office network specifically to
determine the validity of claims made by licensees that payments made under the
LPO Agreement are not fair or reasonable.
8.142 The committee recommends that where a payment is
found to be not fair or reasonable, that a study should be conducted to
determine what an appropriate payment rate should be.
Recommendation 18
9.26 The committee recommends that Australia Post, when
negotiating the current value of franchises, takes into account the impact on
the value of franchises of its inability to deliver the promised opportunities.
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