Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Brown for that question, and I appreciate the notice given—albeit brief. I have here chapter 6 of the ALP platform, which reads ‘Australia Post’. Section 124 states:

124          Labor will maintain Australia Post in full public ownership.

1125        Labor will maintain Australia Post as the sole carrier of the standard-size, letter service and the sole issuer of postage stamps. Cross-subsidy arrangements between metropolitan and regional Australia will remain to ensure an equitable, flat-rate postal charging arrangement for the standard letter.

So I assure Senator Bob Brown that there is no intention on the part of the Rudd government to entertain any form of privatisation of Australia Post. I am aware of the recent announcements made by the Brown government and I am viewing them, but not with a great deal of interest.