Postal sector

On 21 April 2020, the government announced temporary regulatory relief to assist Australia Post to continue providing important postal services for all Australians during the COVID-19 crisis. Changes will apply until 30 June 2021, subject to review.

Australia Post will operate under a temporary relaxation in regulatory requirements, including:

  • no longer providing its priority letters service, which accounts for only 12 per cent of letter volumes
  • an extended delivery time for regular intrastate letters, of five days after the day of posting
  • adjusting the delivery frequency, in metropolitan areas only, from every business day to every second business day, and
  • having greater flexibility in managing post offices during the pandemic, while taking all reasonable steps to keep outlets open.

Australia Post will maintain its regular and express post services. Delivery frequency in regional, rural and remote Australia will not change.

Following the Government's announcement of $25 million to fund home medicine services in the wake of COVID-19, Australia Post has also launched a Pharmacy Home Delivery Service.

Australia Post has also partnered with Woolworths and Coles to deliver groceries to vulnerable members of the community.

Find out more