Amending the Australian Postal Corporation (Performance Standards) Regulations 2019

The Performance Standards Regulations are made under the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989. The Performance Standards Regulations prescribe performance standards that Australia Post must meet regarding the:

• frequency, speed and accuracy of mail delivery, and
• availability and accessibility of post-boxes and other mail lodgement points, and retail outlets from which Australia Post products or services may be purchased.

On 6 December 2023, the Government announced reforms to enable Australia Post to boost productivity, increase its focus on parcels, and improve long-term financial sustainability.

The implementation of key elements of the reform package require that the Regulations be amended to:

• change the performance standards that Australia Post is required to meet regarding the frequency and speed of mail delivery,
• deregulate the Priority Mail service, and
• update the geographic classification used in the performance standards for retail outlets.

The draft Regulations were developed having regard to views expressed during previous consultation undertaken between 2 March and 27 April 2023.

Relevant documentation

• Amending the Australian Postal Corporation (Performance Standards) Regulations 2019 Fact Sheet
• Draft Regulations

Consultation on amending the draft Regulations was open for submissions from 2 February to 29 February 2024.

Fifty-eight short comments and submissions were received from a diverse range of stakeholders who provided their views on the draft Regulations.

On the whole, the views expressed replicated those submitted in the earlier postal modernisation consultation. That is, Australians support the development of a well-designed package of reforms that continues to support the delivery of traditional postal services, supports growth services, and underpins the long-term financial sustainability of Australia Post. Importantly, the majority of views expressed confirmed that the draft Regulations were fit for purpose and support the Australian Government’s reforms to modernise Australia Post.

Published formal submissions can be viewed below.

Amendments to the Regulations have now been made, to be operational from 15 April 2024. The amended Regulations can be found at legislation.gov.au

For more information about the amended Regulations see www.infrastructure.gov.au/austpost

See also: Media Release—Modernising Australia Post