Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Hansard source

The government is committed to all of the existing regulations. So, yes, we do believe that, just like we believe that in telecommunications and broadband everybody should get the same standard at the same price. This is a principle that the Gillard government is very committed to.

But my intuition suggests that we may perhaps get a question about the situation in Launceston, which has been canvassed. What those opposite are well aware of is that I have met with and spoken with Australia Post in recent times to clarify what was evolving in Tasmania. My understanding is that the guarantee on all outward bound has been maintained and that there are ongoing discussions to see how Australia Post can continue to maintain its guarantee on the inward bound.

I do not want to pre-empt your questions, Senator Colbeck, but we have already met with and discussed with the management and board of Australia Post; we have clarified where there was a fair bit of misinformation. I think it was important to clarify what actually happened in Launceston around Express Post. There is no suggestion whatsoever that the next business day guarantee would not be available for outbound Express Post items from Northern Tasmania to metropolitan centres on the mainland.