No Guarantee on Rural Post Service

Date: 06 April 2000

The Prime Minister today refused to guarantee that the Government's determination to deregulate Australia Post would not have an adverse impact on Australia Post service levels in rural, regional and remote areas.

"During Question Time in Parliament today, I asked Mr Howard the following question:
"Prime Minister, why is no red light flashing in your office over the Government's proposal to deregulate Australia Post, when you cannot guarantee, in breach of your Nyngan declaration, that Australia Post's services to rural, regional and remote Australia won't fall as a consequence of deregulation?"

"Mr Howard baldly asserted that after his Government's deregulation, services would not fall. However, he refused to give a guarantee to that effect.

"Mr Howard's assertion defies credulity, common sense, and practical experience.
"The Government has clearly not learnt from their experience of blindly pursuing their ideology to fully privatise Telstra.
"It must be beyond belief to the people of rural and regional Australia that the Government would now seek to reduce Australia Post's capacity to service the less profitable areas, which include rural and remote Australia.
"This is an issue not just in respect of the current services provided by Australia Post - it also goes to the heart of Australia Post's ability to be a provider of the emerging online digital services.
"Labor is committed to ensuring that Australia Post maintains its position as an important communications service provider to the Australian community, and will oppose the Government's proposal to deregulate the Australian postal industry.
"In respect of the Government's deregulation legislation, it will be a case of "return to sender"!

For further information

Contact:	Patrick Bindon
Union:	ALP Federal
Phone:	0418 694 878

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