Australia Post in danger of being sold off by government

Australia Post was in danger of being sold off by the government, Labor said.

Opposition communications spokesman Lindsay Tanner said the coalition’s postal services policy, launched today, made no mention of keeping Australia Post in public hands.

However Communications Minister Helen Coonan hit back, saying the coalition had no intention to sell it.

Mr Tanner said it was the first time the coalition’s postal policy had failed to rule out privatising Australia Post.

“There is no reference in the policy document whatsoever to Australia Post remaining in full public ownership,” he said.

“In the coalition’s 2001 postal policy document the Howard government said it would `maintain Australia Post in full public ownership’.

“That commitment has now been dropped.”

Mr Tanner said Labor was committed to keeping Australia Post in full public ownership.

Senator Coonan said Australia Post would remain in public ownership and the price of a stamp frozen at 50 cents for three years under a coalition government.

The coalition would also ensure Australia Post had at least 4,000 outlets across the country, with more than half in rural and regional areas.

“A re-elected coalition government will keep Australia Post in public ownership and freeze the 50 cent postage rate for three years, keeping Australia’s postage rates at world record lows,” Senator Coonan said.

“Our policy of ensuring record on-time delivery, expanded business banking services for rural and regional Australia and a guaranteed minimum of 4,000 Australia Post outlets across Australia will help us continue to deliver effective and efficient postal services.”