The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today issued a Guide on how the ACCC would inquire into disputes that may arise between Australia Post and users of its bulk letter interconnection service. This service does not include Australia Post’s 60 cent basic postage rate or the price of other ordinary letters paid by consumers.
Australia Post’s bulk interconnection service is offered to businesses that send bulk quantities of letters for delivery within Australia. Australia Post provides bulk interconnection services at lower rates than for its standard mail service.
The ACCC has a role under the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989 and the Australian Postal Corporation Regulations 1996 to inquire into potential bulk mail disputes and to make recommendations to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the
Digital Economy about disputes. The Minister can then direct Australia Post to act in accordance with recommendations in the report.
This Guide was released following the ACCC’s consideration of submissions lodged in response to a Draft Guide that was released for public comment on 10 August 2012.
The Guide is available at Inquiries into disputes about bulk mail services