Steve Hutchins (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Coonan, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Is the minister aware of plans by Australia Post to introduce new fees for pensioners and veterans for the use of the mail redirection service? Can the minister confirm that around 400,000 concession card holders currently use this service free of charge and that the introduction of these new fees is expected to raise nearly $6 million for Australia Post? Was the minister consulted by Australia Post about its plans to introduce these new fees? Does the minister support Australia Post’s decision to slug pensioners and veterans?

Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia Post operates as an independent corporation and so the answer to that question is—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I cannot hear what the minister is saying. Can we have a bit of quiet on my left?

Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. Australia Post is an independent corporation and they certainly have the opportunity, and do, in accordance with their own corporate plan, decide on matters such as—

Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Banking and Financial Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Who owns Australia Post?

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Sherry!

Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In accordance with their corporate plan and with their own ability to control their operations, they are in a position where they can review these matters as they see fit. It is not the case, and never has been the case, that this government does not care about any of the matters that affect pensioners and ordinary Australians. In fact, exactly how we operate in terms of both our overhang ownership in Telstra and with the regulatory—

Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Banking and Financial Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why don’t you know? You are the minister.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Sherry, come to order!

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I am unable to continue.

Steve Hutchins (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I will ask the last bit again. Does the minister support Australia Post’s decision? Can the minister confirm that late last year Australia Post made a record profit of $374 million and paid the government a record dividend of $286 million? In light of these results, how can the minister justify Australia Post’s move to gouge extra fee revenue out of pensioners and veterans? Will the government offer to reduce its dividend payments so that pensioners and veterans are not hit by these new fees?

Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I said, it is clear that Australia Post, as a government business enterprise, is entitled as a business enterprise and is responsible for its own commercial and management decisions. Historically, Australia Post has absorbed the cost of providing mail redirection and mail-holding services to pensioners. The services were intended to provide a temporary solution for customers who may be moving from one address to another or who are indeed absent from their home for a short period. Australia Post reports over time that the usage of these services has grown significantly and, in turn, the costs incurred by Australia Post in providing what were temporary services, services that they could offer free, have increased to approximately $5.7 million. Had I been able to finish my earlier answer, the other side would have had all of this information. (Time expired)