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

As I said, I have also been speaking with Australia Post about the inbound from the mainlands, and I will continue discussions with Australia Post about the next business day guaranteed services into Launceston, with a particular focus on the needs of local businesses. As a government business enterprise, Australia Post is required to perform its functions as far as practical in a manner consistent with sound commercial practices. I remind the Senate that Australia Post provides the Express Post network in competition with other couriers, that this market is fully open to competition and that decisions are made based on Australia Post’s ability to guarantee delivery. That goes to the nub of the circumstance in Tasmania. I understand that, even where an area is not covered by the next day guarantee, articles sent by Express Post will travel with priority. The Express Post network will continue to provide faster service than regular parcel post deliveries. (Time expired)