In the midst of an already challenging cost-of-living crisis, Australians are bracing themselves for yet another price hike.

This time, it's the humble postage stamp that's set to become more expensive following a draft proposal approved by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Australia Post will increase the price of a regular stamp by 30 cents, taking it from $1.20 to $1.50.

Larger letters aren't exempt, either.

Those up to 125g will see a 60-cent increase to $3, while those weighing up to 250g will rise by almost a dollar, from $3.60 to $4.50.

Australia Post announced a price hike on mail stamps. Image source: Australia Post.

ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh acknowledged the impact this could have on consumers and small businesses.

However, he also highlighted that these changes are unlikely to bring in added revenue for AusPost.

'Australia Post's ordinary letter delivery remains a crucial national service. However, it faces increasing financial pressure in a landscape now dominated by digital forms of communication,' Keogh said.

This comes after reports that Australia Post is grappling with a challenging landscape.

While the number of delivery addresses across Australia is expected to grow by about 200,000 per year, the volume of letters delivered is forecasted to decline by 11.3 per cent a year until 2025-26.

Gary Starr, Australia Post’s Executive General Manager, described the situation as an 'unstoppable decline' of letters in the modern era, which has contributed to a $200 million loss last financial year.

'That 30 cents still doesn't cover—or get us anywhere near covering—the cost of delivering letters, but it's taking us in the right direction,' Starr explained.

'We've got the support we need, you know, in the short-term, we'll continue to work with [the] government on that.'

The proposed stamp cost increases would not apply to concession stamps or stamps for seasonal greeting cards, according to Australia Post.

For the average Australian, who sends about 15 letters per year, the price increase is expected to result in an additional cost of $4.50 per year.

However, the impact on businesses could be more significant, potentially forcing them to pay more for their postal services.

AusPost is repeatedly holding open submissions until February 15 before making a final decision.

This gives consumers and businesses an opportunity to voice their concerns and potentially influence the outcome.

Submissions should be sent via email to [email protected].

Members of the SDC voiced their opinions on the proposed hike in our previous articles.

Member @Liz said: 'I would rather pay a bit more and get my items by postie. Banks and other institutions still send statement by mail.'

Member @Pink lion added: 'I love the postal service and even though there seems a great call to put everything digital…I much prefer humans retaining their employment or gaining new employment. So, due to rising costs, I shall continue to support post office workers.'

While member @Judy HB said: 'Everything seems to be going up [a lot] not just a bit! I did not expect a stamp to cost $1:50 soon! I feel for those struggling to make ends meet.'

Key Takeaways

• The ACCC has approved a proposal for Australia Post to increase stamp prices.
• A regular stamp's price is set to rise by 30 cents to $1.50, with larger letters incurring higher increases.
• Despite the rise, Australia Post's executive general manager, Gary Starr, expressed the increase won't fully cover the cost of letter delivery.
• There will be no price increase for concession stamps or seasonal greeting card stamps, and businesses may face higher costs due to the proposed changes.

Members, what are your thoughts on the upcoming stamp price increase? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

 

[Michelle Rowe]

What's Tory? That's not something I have ever heard of in Australia. We vote Liberal, National, Labour or any one of the minor parties who do nothing for us any way.

Well if y'all want to use the email rather than use Australia Post for writing to friends, rellies and corporations to pay bills, whaddya expect? Australia Post is national resource and asset and y'all allowed Keating to split the telecommunications service from the mail service and subsequent loser-pays governments to privatise you friendly local Post Office shops to contractors............

With compulsory voting Australia gets what it votes for and if y'all wannabe stupid and vote Tory, learn to live with the results! They are never beneficial to the Australian "community", which is why we have a housing problem and homelessness and food-banks.

Tory? Are you english?
Y'all? Are you american?
This is Australia
The older generation don't use email. Poorer people don't even own a computer or phone.
Need to wait another decade or two

 

[Jayemg]

In the midst of an already challenging cost-of-living crisis, Australians are bracing themselves for yet another price hike.

This time, it's the humble postage stamp that's set to become more expensive following a draft proposal approved by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Australia Post will increase the price of a regular stamp by 30 cents, taking it from $1.20 to $1.50.

Larger letters aren't exempt, either.

Those up to 125g will see a 60-cent increase to $3, while those weighing up to 250g will rise by almost a dollar, from $3.60 to $4.50.

View attachment 39983

Australia Post announced a price hike on mail stamps. Image source: Australia Post.

ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh acknowledged the impact this could have on consumers and small businesses.

However, he also highlighted that these changes are unlikely to bring in added revenue for AusPost.

'Australia Post's ordinary letter delivery remains a crucial national service. However, it faces increasing financial pressure in a landscape now dominated by digital forms of communication,' Keogh said.

This comes after reports that Australia Post is grappling with a challenging landscape.

While the number of delivery addresses across Australia is expected to grow by about 200,000 per year, the volume of letters delivered is forecasted to decline by 11.3 per cent a year until 2025-26.

Gary Starr, Australia Post’s Executive General Manager, described the situation as an 'unstoppable decline' of letters in the modern era, which has contributed to a $200 million loss last financial year.

'That 30 cents still doesn't cover—or get us anywhere near covering—the cost of delivering letters, but it's taking us in the right direction,' Starr explained.

'We've got the support we need, you know, in the short-term, we'll continue to work with [the] government on that.'

The proposed stamp cost increases would not apply to concession stamps or stamps for seasonal greeting cards, according to Australia Post.

For the average Australian, who sends about 15 letters per year, the price increase is expected to result in an additional cost of $4.50 per year.

However, the impact on businesses could be more significant, potentially forcing them to pay more for their postal services.

AusPost is repeatedly holding open submissions until February 15 before making a final decision.

This gives consumers and businesses an opportunity to voice their concerns and potentially influence the outcome.

Submissions should be sent via email to [email protected].

Members of the SDC voiced their opinions on the proposed hike in our previous articles.

Member @Liz said: 'I would rather pay a bit more and get my items by postie. Banks and other institutions still send statement by mail.'

Member @Pink lion added: 'I love the postal service and even though there seems a great call to put everything digital…I much prefer humans retaining their employment or gaining new employment. So, due to rising costs, I shall continue to support post office workers.'

While member @Judy HB said: 'Everything seems to be going up [a lot] not just a bit! I did not expect a stamp to cost $1:50 soon! I feel for those struggling to make ends meet.'

Key Takeaways

• The ACCC has approved a proposal for Australia Post to increase stamp prices.
• A regular stamp's price is set to rise by 30 cents to $1.50, with larger letters incurring higher increases.
• Despite the rise, Australia Post's executive general manager, Gary Starr, expressed the increase won't fully cover the cost of letter delivery.
• There will be no price increase for concession stamps or seasonal greeting card stamps, and businesses may face higher costs due to the proposed changes.

Members, what are your thoughts on the upcoming stamp price increase? Share your thoughts with us in the comments be

 

[Jayemg]

all this will do is to stop people who send letters or cards to family members or even parcels each month. Way to go Australian Post, you are now becoming one of the biggest death keels to small Home Made Business in Australia.
I used to make around 150 Happy Birthday, Anniversary or other celebration cards (T=$180 postage only) per year and about 100 Christmas cards per year (T=$65 postage only). The cost of postage only will go from about $245. per year to about $290. and that's only if 2024 Xmas stamps stay at $0.65 per stamp.
Being on a very limited budget I no longer able to afford send cards to anyone.

So here's another lovely pastime activity gone from my life.

Increasing the prices and reducing the delivery services is only turning consumers away from Australia Post. Seems unreasonable to want it both ways.

 

[Clancieblue]

Read the article. It says that there will be no change to concession stamps or seasonal greeting cards.

Can you explain concession stamps please Elaine,I have never heard of them.? Thanks

 

[Lladnyl]

A few months ago I had to send a card from Sydney to Townsville. It ended up taking over 2 weeks. It's no wonder we do it mostly electronically these days.

 

[Reet]

ElizaKaye, the Government should never have sold our Utilities to private organizations!!!

MP's, after they get voted in, never seem to listen to what the people want. They just assume and get what they want for themselves and their party.

 

[kevinwoodtufftyke52@gmail]

In the midst of an already challenging cost-of-living crisis, Australians are bracing themselves for yet another price hike.

This time, it's the humble postage stamp that's set to become more expensive following a draft proposal approved by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Australia Post will increase the price of a regular stamp by 30 cents, taking it from $1.20 to $1.50.

Larger letters aren't exempt, either.

Those up to 125g will see a 60-cent increase to $3, while those weighing up to 250g will rise by almost a dollar, from $3.60 to $4.50.

View attachment 39983

Australia Post announced a price hike on mail stamps. Image source: Australia Post.

ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh acknowledged the impact this could have on consumers and small businesses.

However, he also highlighted that these changes are unlikely to bring in added revenue for AusPost.

'Australia Post's ordinary letter delivery remains a crucial national service. However, it faces increasing financial pressure in a landscape now dominated by digital forms of communication,' Keogh said.

This comes after reports that Australia Post is grappling with a challenging landscape.

While the number of delivery addresses across Australia is expected to grow by about 200,000 per year, the volume of letters delivered is forecasted to decline by 11.3 per cent a year until 2025-26.

Gary Starr, Australia Post’s Executive General Manager, described the situation as an 'unstoppable decline' of letters in the modern era, which has contributed to a $200 million loss last financial year.

'That 30 cents still doesn't cover—or get us anywhere near covering—the cost of delivering letters, but it's taking us in the right direction,' Starr explained.

'We've got the support we need, you know, in the short-term, we'll continue to work with [the] government on that.'

The proposed stamp cost increases would not apply to concession stamps or stamps for seasonal greeting cards, according to Australia Post.

For the average Australian, who sends about 15 letters per year, the price increase is expected to result in an additional cost of $4.50 per year.

However, the impact on businesses could be more significant, potentially forcing them to pay more for their postal services.

AusPost is repeatedly holding open submissions until February 15 before making a final decision.

This gives consumers and businesses an opportunity to voice their concerns and potentially influence the outcome.

Submissions should be sent via email to [email protected].

Members of the SDC voiced their opinions on the proposed hike in our previous articles.

Member @Liz said: 'I would rather pay a bit more and get my items by postie. Banks and other institutions still send statement by mail.'

Member @Pink lion added: 'I love the postal service and even though there seems a great call to put everything digital…I much prefer humans retaining their employment or gaining new employment. So, due to rising costs, I shall continue to support post office workers.'

While member @Judy HB said: 'Everything seems to be going up [a lot] not just a bit! I did not expect a stamp to cost $1:50 soon! I feel for those struggling to make ends meet.'

Key Takeaways

• The ACCC has approved a proposal for Australia Post to increase stamp prices.
• A regular stamp's price is set to rise by 30 cents to $1.50, with larger letters incurring higher increases.
• Despite the rise, Australia Post's executive general manager, Gary Starr, expressed the increase won't fully cover the cost of letter delivery.
• There will be no price increase for concession stamps or seasonal greeting card stamps, and businesses may face higher costs due to the proposed changes.

Members, what are your thoughts on the upcoming stamp price increase? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

It's always the low income and pensioners that suffer more when prices increase.

 

[AlanQ]

I don't get it....if Australia Post did their job right would we need postage to go up ? Over half of the letters that I get the stamps have not been stamped.....

yes they are, it a Phosphorescence mark that is used. It's used to catch and reject any re-used stamps so the sender (or receiver) pays a fee of $5: plus the correct postage when the automated systems pickup re-used stamps.

 

[AlanQ]

Personally, I'm so going to feel the pain that .30c a year I'll be paying to send something via the mail that can't be paid online.

 

[Rob44]

What's Tory? That's not something I have ever heard of in Australia. We vote Liberal, National, Labour or any one of the minor parties who do nothing for us any way.

"Tory" is a perfectly good word to describe the assorted right-wing types in Australia, being derived from the Irish Gaelic word for thief, hooligan, bandit and general rat-bag. "Tory" represents an attitude of mind that governs behaviour

 

[Jayemg]

Ca you explain concession stamps please Elaine,I have never heard of them.? Thanks

If you are a concession card holder, you can get an annual allocation of 60cent postage stamps from the Post Office.

 

[Clancieblue]

If you are a concession card holder, you can get an annual allocation of 60cent postage stamps from the Post Office.

Thank you