The struggle for small retailers is no stranger to QVM
Traders and it is interesting to see what is being done in other key retail
areas to help alleviate the problem. The struggles of licensed post offices and
community postal agencies have been well documented as income streams change
dramatically for that sector. Digital communication has replaced traditional
mail while parcel traffic has skyrocketed.
A Senate inquiry in 2014 declared that Australia Post needed
to compensate franchisees for the failure of the mail agency’s franchise
network. As a result, Australia Post will increase the minimum annual payment
to more than 500 licensed post offices from $20,000 to $30,000 and introduce a
$7,500 payment for some 500 community postal agencies. It will also increase
payments for handling parcels.
This follows a complete review of the costs associated with
running post offices and the payments necessary to ensure a fair
return for operating the businesses. The measures have been generally well
received with a warning that much more needs to be done to sustain a viable
postal delivery network into the future.
