ACCC seeks comment on proposed increases in postage prices

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today released an issues paper seeking comment on Australia Post's proposal to increase prices across a number of its monopoly letter services.

Australia Post lodged a draft notification with the ACCC on July 24 2009 which proposes an increase in the basic postage rate from 55 to 60 cents as well as increases in the price of other mail services including large and small ordinary letters, large and small pre-sort ordinary letters, clean mail, reply paid mail, impact mail and local delivery mail.

"The ACCC has received a detailed submission from Australia Post in support of the proposed price increases," ACCC Chairman, Graeme Samuel, said.

"This submission includes modelling of Australia Post's past and future productivity, mail volumes, and costs.

"The issues paper released by the ACCC today seeks comment from interested parties on Australia Post's proposal."

Under the prices surveillance provisions of the Trade Practices Act the ACCC has a role in assessing proposed price increases for Australia Post's monopoly letter services.

To assist the ACCC's consideration of the draft notification, submissions are being sought from interested parties on key issues. These submissions should reach the ACCC by September 18 2009.

The draft notification, issues paper and submissions received will be available on the ACCC's website.