Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 3 April 2012:

With reference to Clause 22 of the formal agreements made between Australia Post and Licensed Post Offices (LPO):

(1) When Clause 22 is invoked in order to terminate an LPO agreement:

(a) is it the intention of Australia Post that compensation paid is "fair and reasonable"; if not, what are the intentions of Australia Post; and

(b) is the market value of an LPO considered when determining the rate of compensation where market value is in excess of three times business revenue; if not, why not.

(2) Can details be provided of the formal policy of Australia Post in regard to the use of Clause 22, including:

  (a) in what circumstances termination without cause can be implemented;

  (b) what is the compensation policy in circumstances where termination without cause is implemented, including whether full compensation is required to be paid, and if it is not paid, why not; and

  (c) does Australia Post have a policy with regard to the use of Clause 22; if so, can a copy be provided; if not, why not and on what basis is the clause exercised.

(3) Can details be provided of the policy work undertaken by Mr Gary Ward in relation to the use of Clause 22 by Australia Post, including whether that work is available; if so, can a copy be provided.

(4) Does Australia Post intend to invoke Clause 22 as a bargaining tool against licensees who request fair payment under their LPO agreement.

(5) Does Australia Post acknowledge that it would be fair and reasonable that any decision to terminate an LPO agreement under Clause 22 be required to pass through an independent public review, thereby enabling licensee representation prior to termination; if not, why not.

(6) In regard to the Vaucluse LPO and Campbell Town LPO, detailed separately:

  (a) which Australia Post official was responsible for invoking Clause 22;

  (b) who is responsible for determining the licensee compensation payments;

  (c) what were the market values of each LPO at the time of termination;

  (d) was the market value greater than three times the business revenue; and

  (e) has an offer of three times business revenue been made to the licensees by way of compensation; if not, why not.