Policy and Legislation

The Department advises the Australian Government on how the policy and legislative framework of the postal industry in Australia can best meet its social and economic objectives.

The postal market in Australia is largely deregulated. All industry players, including Australia Post, must comply with the broad Australian regulatory environment (such as the Trade Practices Act 1974 and state and territory fair trading laws). Apart from the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989 (APC Act) , there is little postal specific legislation.

Under the APC Act, Australia Post has three general obligations:

• to perform its functions as far as possible consistent with sound commercial practice (Australia Post operates under a corporate model with its board and management responsible for its day-to-day running);
• to carry out the terms of its Community Service Obligations (CSO); and
• to perform its functions consistent with general policies of the Australian Government, comply with any directions issued by the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts and comply with Australia's obligations under international conventions.

The APC Act also provides that Australia Post must comply with Record Keeping Rules issued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The ACCC uses this information to monitor for cross-subsidy from Australia Post reserved (monopoly) services to its non-reserved (competitive) services. This ensures that Australia Post operates on a level playing field with other industry participants in areas open to full competition.

Australia Post is a wholly-owned Government Business Enterprise (GBE) with the Government as the sole shareholder, responsibility for which is shared jointly by the relevant Ministers.

Like other GBEs, Australia Post is also subject to the particular requirements of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 as well as the Governance Arrangements for Commonwealth Government Business Enterprises.

See more about Australia Post

• Document ID: 48656 |
• Last modified: 18 August 2008, 10:57am