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

asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 14 March 2012:

With reference to question No 55 taken on notice during the 2011-12, Supplementary Budget estimates hearing of the Environment and Communications Legislative Committee:

(1) Why are Licensed Post Offices still experiencing lengthy delays in the supply of stock.

(2) Why is Australia Post unable to provide delivery invoices with stock.

(3) Is Australia Post up-to-date with the processing of credits owed to licensees.

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

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) On-time fulfilment of Licensed Post Office orders has been a key focus for the warehouse over the last three months and the delays have been reduced. Work is ongoing to further improve performance, with additional improvements expected through the redesign of the Altona warehouse, which is scheduled to be completed in April 2012.

(2) Australia Post acknowledges that this is an issue for Licensees. The issue was caused by the consolidation of warehouses to Altona. Action is well advanced to ensure that delivery invoices will again be included with stock over the coming weeks. In addition, an option to receive dispatch advice electronically will be made available to Licensees in the near future.

(3) The processing of credits owed to Licensees has improved significantly with extra resources being allocated to clear the backlog. Most outstanding credits prior to March have now been cleared. The processing of credits continues to be given priority and is expected to be up to date by the end of April 2012.