Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

As I said, it is clear that Australia Post, as a government business enterprise, is entitled as a business enterprise and is responsible for its own commercial and management decisions. Historically, Australia Post has absorbed the cost of providing mail redirection and mail-holding services to pensioners. The services were intended to provide a temporary solution for customers who may be moving from one address to another or who are indeed absent from their home for a short period. Australia Post reports over time that the usage of these services has grown significantly and, in turn, the costs incurred by Australia Post in providing what were temporary services, services that they could offer free, have increased to approximately $5.7 million. Had I been able to finish my earlier answer, the other side would have had all of this information. (Time expired)