1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2002  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 25/01/2002   
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Contents >> Communications and Information Technology >> 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. Australia Post is independent of government funding, achieves a substantial profit from its activities, and pays a full range of taxes and charges. In 1999-2000, Australia Post paid $327m in taxes and government charges ($328m in 1998-99).

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; and
  • perform its functions consistent with the Commonwealth's general policies.

Financial and other operating statistics for Australia Post are shown in tables 24.6, 24.7 and 24.8.


24.6 AUSTRALIAN POSTAL CORPORATION, Consolidated Financial Statement
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000

$ MILLION
Revenue
3,124
3,300
3,449
3,743
Expenditure
2,781
2,924
3,074
3,317
Operating profit before income tax
353
335
373
392
Dividends
220
215
149
156
Total taxes and government charges(a)
308
295
328
327
Cost of Universal Service Obligation(b)
67
71
70
79
Total assets(c)
2,589
2,736
2,854
3,037

PER CENT
Return on assets(d)
14.6
12.8
13.8
14.0

(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.


24.7 AUSTRALIAN POSTAL CORPORATION, Mail Delivery Network and Post Outlets
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
no.
no.
no.
no.

Households receiving mail
7,387,216
7,348,319
7,668,143
7,922,702
Businesses receiving mail
822,949
822,412
838,009
856,598
Total delivery points
8,130,498
8,170,731
8,506,152
8,779,300
Corporate outlets and licensed post offices
3,934
3,922
3,903
3,887

Source: Australian Postal Corporation.


24.8 AUSTRALIAN POSTAL CORPORATION, Total Postal Articles Handled
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
million
million
million
million
million

Posted in Australia for delivery in Australia
3,734
3,888
4,046
4,194
4,461
Posted in Australia for delivery overseas
159
157
165
172
193
Posted overseas for delivery in Australia
155
160
161
164
169
Total articles through mail network
4,047
4,206
4,372
4,530
4,823

Source: Australian Postal Corporation.



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