Latest news with #AustraliaPost
West Australian
3 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
Broome's Australia Post Office tackles loneliness crisis with free postcards
Broome's Australia Post Office and Beyond Blue are tackling the mental health and loneliness crisis by offering free postcards to customer to help encourage connection. This year, households across Western Australia are set to receive nearly 800,000 Connection Postcards, as part of a national campaign, where five million prepaid Connection Postcards are being delivered to letterboxes across the country. Australia Post Community and Stakeholder Engagement general manager Nicky Tracey said it was about encouraging Australians to pause, pick up a pen, and reach out to someone they care about. 'We're proud to partner with Beyond Blue and for the fifth consecutive year to connect more people with mental health information and with each other,' she said. 'What we know is that people still feel a much deeper emotional connection when they receive a letter or postcard. And that's why we want to encourage people to write to one another, to improve connection.' Created by regional Australian artist, Jocelyn Proust, the illustration on the cards includes two fairy wrens in a vibrant natural setting to signify the power of communication for connection and begins with the words, 'sharing this postcard because I care'. Beyond Blue chief executive Georgie Harman said the initiative is a reminder of the power of connection and how small acts of kindness can have a big impact on our mental health. 'Research shows that everyday micro interactions like saying hello to people in our local neighbourhood as we're walking the dog or popping into the shops can help us feel less lonely and more connected,' she said. 'Our partnership with Australia Post and the Connection Postcards embodies those small but mighty moments by encouraging Australians to let someone know they're thinking about them. 'Australia Post's large network helps us reach regional and rural communities, where people are more likely to experience loneliness, which can affect their mental health, and where access to support is often limited.' A recent study by Beyond Blue in 2024 found one in three people in Australia have reported feeling lonely and 30 per cent of people said loneliness or a lack of connection caused distress last year — ranking just behind financial pressure, relationship challenges, and housing stress. Since its launch in 2020, the Connection Postcards initiative has seen Australia Post distribute 21 million postcards. The postcards are now available at Broome Post Office.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Australia Post price hike to hit everyday Aussies sparks backlash: 'Out of control'
Australia Post is copping backlash after the consumer watchdog approved its request to raise prices by 13.3 per cent. The national postage service asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) back in November if it could raise the cost of certain services as it battled multi-million dollar losses. The ACCC has decided not to oppose the proposal, meaning the price of some letters will rise by up to 60 cents from July 17. ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said while it will mean higher costs for everyday Aussies, it's essential to keep the postal service running. "Our decision to not object to Australia Post's proposed price increase is based on evidence that the costs to Australia Post of providing the letter service are greater than the revenue it produces," she said. Australia Post worker's hand-written sign sparks interest in new hiring blitz Young Aussie reveals $390,000 property regret after falling into common trap Centrelink payment alert for 58,000 Aussies in caravans "Further, we made recommendations to address a number of other concerns expressed by stakeholders during consultation. 'We are especially mindful of the impact price changes can have on vulnerable Australians, and so our decision paper recommends that Australia Post increases the number of concession stamps per customer, which is currently capped at 50 per year.'Australia Post proposed an increase in the price of certain letters, which will now kick in next month: Ordinary small letters will go from $1.50 to $1.70 (20 cents hike) Ordinary large letters up to 125g will go from $3.00 to $3.40 (40 cents hike) Ordinary large letters between 125 and 250 grams will go from $4.50 to $5.10 (60 cents hike) Brakey said the proposal to make an ordinary letter cost $1.70 was still below the current median price of $1.93 among OECD postal service operators. It comes after a 30 per cent hike in ordinary small letters in April last year. The price of concession stamps (which is $3 for five) and stamps for seasonal greeting cards (65 cents) won't be affected by this change. Australians weren't happy at the thought of forking out more of their cash to send a basic letter around the country. Many flocked to social media in the wake of the news to vent their frustrations over the extra 60 cents. "What a joke!" wrote one person. "The price rise is because the majority don't send letters anymore. This just penalises those who still do. There comes a time when we have to let the past go," added another. "Everything just getting out of control price with everything is going up and it's going to get harder for everyone," said a third. The ACCC held a public consultation period before deciding not to oppose Australia Post's proposal. The only person who can now stop the price increase before the July 17 change is Anika Wells, the federal minister for communications. AusPost said in its submission it had been struggling in recent years as fewer people were sending letters. This is a shift occurring across the world and Australia's postal service only delivers around two letters to each household per week. This is expected to drop by more than 10 per cent every year until 2027-28. As a result, it's hoping a small price increase will alleviate this downward trend. Even though it's only been a little more than 12 months since the last price hike, along with a huge overhaul in the letter delivery system where the frequency was amended to every second day, Australia Post still incurred a $361.8 million loss in the 2023-24 financial year. AusPost said in its submission to the ACCC that it expects these losses to "grow substantially" from the 2025-26 financial year "unless further price increases are implemented". Even with this latest price increase, the ACCC said AusPost was 'unlikely' to recover revenue over its in to access your portfolio
Sky News AU
5 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
AusPost letter stamp prices likely to spike as major change gets pass from consumer watchdog
Australia Post stamp prices could rise significantly from next month, with the country's consumer watchdog deciding not to oppose major changes. AusPost has proposed a price increase of 13.3 per cent for its basic postage rate, which includes standard small and large letters. The shift would see the rate for sending ordinary small letters rise from $3 to $3.40, while the price for large letters, which are those between 125 to 250 grams, would go from $4.50 to $5.10. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has decided not to oppose the changes, which will come into effect from July 17 if Minister for Communications Anika Wells does not reject the move, a statement on Monday from the consumer watchdog said. Prices for seasonal greeting card and concession stamps will not be raised under the move, the statement said. ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey has said AusPost's submission signaled that its standard letter posting service is currently running at a loss. 'We understand that these price increases will mean extra costs for consumers,' Ms Brakey said. 'However, our decision to not object to Australia Post's proposed price increase is based on evidence that the costs to Australia Post of providing the letter service are greater than the revenue it produces." AusPost's submission to ACCC outlined that its letters side of the business is 'in decline', wtith AusPost currently delivering on average just two letters to every Australian household every week. Ms Brakey said the ACCC's decision has recommended that AusPost look into how it can 'alleviate affordability issues for businesses'. 'Further we made recommendations to address a number of other concerns expressed by stakeholders during consultation,' Ms Brakey said. 'We are especially mindful of the impact price changes can have on vulnerable Australians, and so our decision paper recommends that Australia Post increases the number of concession stamps per customer, which is currently capped at 50 per year.' AusPost chief executive Paul Graham said in February the postal business is 'dramatically changing' with the growth of parcel deliveries and ecommerce. 'We're seeing the ongoing decline in mail, we're seeing the ongoing decline in over-the-counter services – be that bill pay or other things that we do,' he said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Price hike coming for Australia Post stamps
The price of Australia Post stamps will be hiked next month following approval from the country's consumer watchdog. A stamp for a basic small letter will increase from $1.50 to $1.70, which the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says is still less than in comparable countries. Across the board, prices are going up a little over 13 per cent. 'We are especially mindful of the impact price changes can have on vulnerable Australians and so our decision paper recommends that Australia Post increases the number of concession stamps per customer, which is currently capped at 50 per year,' ACCC commissioner Anna Brakey said. 'We understand that these price increases will mean extra costs for consumers,' she said. However, Australia Post loses money running the national letter service, Ms Brakey said. Following the ACCC's approval, announced Monday, Communications Minister Anika Wells can still reject the price increase. NewsWire has contacted the Minister's office for comment. Fewer and fewer Australians send and receive letters. In submissions made to the ACCC, Australia Post says each household receives only two letters each week. But the ACCC wants Australia Post to work out ways to make letters cheaper for businesses that are required to send them. 'As there are many businesses in Australia that still rely on sending letters, it is crucial that Australia Post has a transparent dialogue with these customers so they are aware of potential pricing changes well ahead of time,' Ms Brakey said. 'While Australia Post has been working constructively with the ACCC on these recommendations, in most instances, we expect full implementation to be reached, so that we can conduct rigorous cost-based assessments going forward,' Ms Brakey said. The average price of a single postage stamp in OECD countries is $1.93. From next month, large letters up to 125g will increase from $3.00 to $3.40. Ordinary large letters between 125g and 250g are going up from $4.50 to $5.10. Concession stamps will remain $3 for five stamps, and seasonal greeting cards are staying at 65c.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Price hike coming for Australia Post stamps
The price of Australia Post stamps will be hiked next month following approval from the country's consumer watchdog. A stamp for a basic small letter will increase from $1.50 to $1.70, which the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says is still less than in comparable countries. Across the board, prices are going up a little over 13 per cent. 'We are especially mindful of the impact price changes can have on vulnerable Australians and so our decision paper recommends that Australia Post increases the number of concession stamps per customer, which is currently capped at 50 per year,' ACCC commissioner Anna Brakey said. 'We understand that these price increases will mean extra costs for consumers,' she said. However, Australia Post loses money running the national letter service, Ms Brakey said. Following the ACCC's approval, announced Monday, Communications Minister Anika Wells can still reject the price increase. NewsWire has contacted the Minister's office for comment. Delivering letters does not turn a profit for Australia Post. NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia Fewer and fewer Australians send and receive letters. In submissions made to the ACCC, Australia Post says each household receives only two letters each week. But the ACCC wants Australia Post to work out ways to make letters cheaper for businesses that are required to send them. 'As there are many businesses in Australia that still rely on sending letters, it is crucial that Australia Post has a transparent dialogue with these customers so they are aware of potential pricing changes well ahead of time,' Ms Brakey said. 'While Australia Post has been working constructively with the ACCC on these recommendations, in most instances, we expect full implementation to be reached, so that we can conduct rigorous cost-based assessments going forward,' Ms Brakey said. The average price of a single postage stamp in OECD countries is $1.93. From next month, large letters up to 125g will increase from $3.00 to $3.40. Ordinary large letters between 125g and 250g are going up from $4.50 to $5.10. Concession stamps will remain $3 for five stamps, and seasonal greeting cards are staying at 65c.
