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POSTAL COMMUNICATIONS
AUSTRALIAN POSTAL CORPORATION
The Australian Postal Corporation (trading as Australia Post) is a government business enterprise owned by the Commonwealth of Australia. It operates under the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989 (Cwlth). Australia Post is independent of government funding, achieves a substantial profit from its activities, and pays a full range of taxes and charges. In 2003-04, Australia Post paid $526m in taxes and government charges, an increase of 8% from 2002-03 ($485m).
Australia Post offers letter and parcel delivery services within Australia and internationally. It also provides a range of related services including electronic bulk mail handling, advertising mail, bill payment, money order and banking services, express delivery services and philatelic products and services.
Australia Post's legal obligations require it to:
- provide Australians with a universal letter service
- carry standard letters within Australia at a uniform price
- ensure that the letter service meets the social, industrial and commercial needs of the community
- perform its functions according to sound business practice
- perform its functions consistent with the Commonwealth's general policies.
Financial and other operating statistics for Australia Post are shown in tables 23.5, 23.6 and 23.7.
23.5 AUSTRALIAN POSTAL CORPORATION, Consolidated financial statement
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 | Units | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 |
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| Revenue | $m | 3,766 | 3,807 | 3,972 | 4,161 |
| Expenditure | $m | 3,364 | 3,399 | 3,510 | 3,640 |
| Operating profit before income tax | $m | 402 | 407 | 462 | 521 |
| Dividends | $m | 275 | 292 | 304 | 221 |
| Total taxes and government charges(a) | $m | 459 | 455 | 485 | 526 |
| Cost of Universal Service Obligation(b) | $m | 86 | 88 | 91 | 79 |
| Total assets(c) | $m | 3,199 | 3,229 | 3,365 | 3,472 |
| Return on assets(d) | % | 13.4 | 12.9 | 14.0 | 15.4 |
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(a) Includes sales tax and customs duty, payroll tax, local government taxes and charges, federal excise duty, and fringe benefits tax.
(b) The Universal Service Obligation ensures that all Australians have reasonable access to the letter service; this includes the delivery of standard letters by ordinary post at a uniform price even when the delivery cost is higher.
(c) At 30 June of the financial years shown.
(d) Operating profit before net interest and income tax divided by average total assets.
Source: Australian Postal Corporation. |
23.6 AUSTRALIAN POSTAL CORPORATION, Mail delivery network and post outlets
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| 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 |
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| Households receiving mail | 8,110,865 | 8,264,191 | 8,483,422 | 8,671,568 |
| Businesses receiving mail | 901,482 | 933,107 | 959,805 | 1,010,408 |
| Total delivery points | 9,012,347 | 9,197,298 | 9,443,227 | 9,681,976 |
| Corporate outlets and licensed post offices | 3,872 | 3,861 | 3,853 | 3,844 |
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| Source: Australian Postal Corporation. |
23.7 AUSTRALIAN POSTAL CORPORATION, Total postal articles handled
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| 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 |
| million | million | million | million |
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| Posted in Australia for delivery in Australia | 4,929 | 4,962 | 4,950 | 5,016 |
| Posted in Australia for delivery overseas | 180 | 173 | 165 | 169 |
| Posted overseas for delivery in Australia | 150 | 147 | 147 | 122 |
| Total articles through mail network | 5,258 | 5,282 | 5,262 | 5,308 |
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| Source: Australian Postal Corporation. |
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