1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2006  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/01/2006   
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POSTAL COMMUNICATIONS

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 2003-04, Australia Post paid $526m in taxes and government charges, an increase of 8% from 2002-03 ($485m).

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 23.5, 23.6 and 23.7.

23.5 AUSTRALIAN POSTAL CORPORATION, Consolidated financial statement

Units
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04

Revenue
$m
3,766
3,807
3,972
4,161
Expenditure
$m
3,364
3,399
3,510
3,640
Operating profit before income tax
$m
402
407
462
521
Dividends
$m
275
292
304
221
Total taxes and government charges(a)
$m
459
455
485
526
Cost of Universal Service Obligation(b)
$m
86
88
91
79
Total assets(c)
$m
3,199
3,229
3,365
3,472
Return on assets(d)
%
13.4
12.9
14.0
15.4

(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.


23.6 AUSTRALIAN POSTAL CORPORATION, Mail delivery network and post outlets

2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04

Households receiving mail
8,110,865
8,264,191
8,483,422
8,671,568
Businesses receiving mail
901,482
933,107
959,805
1,010,408
Total delivery points
9,012,347
9,197,298
9,443,227
9,681,976
Corporate outlets and licensed post offices
3,872
3,861
3,853
3,844

Source: Australian Postal Corporation.


23.7 AUSTRALIAN POSTAL CORPORATION, Total postal articles handled

2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
million
million
million
million

Posted in Australia for delivery in Australia
4,929
4,962
4,950
5,016
Posted in Australia for delivery overseas
180
173
165
169
Posted overseas for delivery in Australia
150
147
147
122
Total articles through mail network
5,258
5,282
5,262
5,308

Source: Australian Postal Corporation.



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