Postal costs to rise – Australia Post

Despite an AUD 562 million profit last year, Australia Post will put up postal charges from next month.

The cost of posting a standard letter will rise to 55c from September 15, a 10 per cent rise.

But Australia Post argues it is the first for five years and is justified because of rising costs.

The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission has approved several increases including a 10c rise for large letters and greeting cards to AUD 1 and barcoded letters up from 95c to AUD 1.08.

Pensioners are not happy.

“It may be only a small rise, but it’s still 10 per cent after all,” said Charmaine Crowe, policy co-ordinator of the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association.

“Older people do use email, but . . . if they cannot afford a home computer then a large number still rely on sending letters.”

She said it strengthened the case for a rise in pension payments.

1 USD = 1.07044 CAD