1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/02/2004   
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Australian Postal Corporation

The Australian Postal Corporation (trading as Australia Post) is a government business enterprise owned by the Commonwealth of Australia. It operates under the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989 (Cwlth). Australia Post is independent of government funding, achieves a substantial profit from its activities, and pays a full range of taxes and charges. In 2001-02, Australia Post paid $455m in taxes and government charges ($459m in 2000-01).

Australia Post offers letter and parcel delivery services within Australia and internationally. It also provides a range of related services including electronic bulk mail handling, advertising mail, bill payment, money order and banking services, express delivery services and philatelic products and services.

Australia Post's legal obligations require it to:

  • provide Australians with a universal letter service
  • carry standard letters within Australia at a uniform price
  • ensure that the letter service meets the social, industrial and commercial needs of the community
  • perform its functions according to sound business practice
  • perform its functions consistent with the Commonwealth's general policies.

Financial and other operating statistics for Australia Post are shown in tables 23.6, 23.7 and 23.8.

23.6 AUSTRALIAN POSTAL CORPORATION, Consolidated financial statement

Units
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02

Revenue
$m
3,459
3,739
3,748
3,758
Expenditure
$m
3,086
3,347
3,346
3,351
Operating profit before income tax
$m
373
392
402
407
Dividends
$m
149
156
275
292
Total taxes and government charges(a)
$m
328
327
459
455
Cost of Universal Service Obligation(b)
$m
75
82
86
88
Total assets(c)
$m
2,854
3,037
3,199
3,229
Return on assets(d)
%
13.8
14.0
13.4
12.9

(a) Includes sales tax and customs duty, payroll tax, local government taxes and charges, federal excise duty, and fringe benefits tax.
(b) The Universal Service Obligation ensures that all Australians have reasonable access to the letter service; this includes the delivery of standard letters by ordinary post at a uniform price even when the delivery cost is higher.
(c) At 30 June of the financial years shown.
(d) Operating profit before net interest and income tax divided by average total assets.
Source: Australian Postal Corporation.

23.7 AUSTRALIAN POSTAL CORPORATION, Mail delivery network and post outlets

1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02

Households receiving mail
7,668,143
7,922,702
8,110,865
8,264,191
Businesses receiving mail
838,009
856,598
901,482
933,107
Total delivery points
8,506,152
8,779,300
9,012,347
9,197,298
Corporate outlets and licensed post offices
3,903
3,887
3,872
3,861

Source: Australian Postal Corporation.

23.8 AUSTRALIAN POSTAL CORPORATION, Total postal articles handled

1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
million
million
million
million

Posted in Australia for delivery in Australia
4,194
4,461
4,558
4,543
Posted in Australia for delivery overseas
172
193
180
178
Posted overseas for delivery in Australia
164
169
150
150
Total articles through mail network
4,530
4,823
4,888
4,871

Source: Australian Postal Corporation.



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