Express Post

We aim to achieve higher than 99 per cent on-time delivery for total Express Post. This year we again surpassed that target, with 99.7 per cent on-time delivery.

Total Express Post volumes increased by 6.9 per cent this year and revenue showed strong growth of 11.7 per cent. The eBay phenomenon has had a positive impact on sales of prepaid Express Post satchels, which were up 12.2 per cent in 2005/06 (similar to the 12.7 per cent increase last year). Ongoing promotions, including a television advertising campaign, also helped to drive our sales this year.

Despite considerable increases in fuel costs during the year, Express Post prices increased by an average of just 2.5 per cent. This strengthened its position in the market as a cost-effective overnight service without extra charges such as fuel levies.

In 2005/06 the Express Post network expanded to cover an extra 46 postcodes in the Melbourne metropolitan area and another two in the Gosford region of New South Wales.

Messenger Post Couriers

Messenger Post Couriers had another year of outstanding growth, with a 31.8 per cent revenue increase on last year. The full integration of SnapX Couriers, which Australia Post acquired in March 2005, has reduced our delivery costs, increased our coverage and improved driver retention in New South Wales.

Across Australia, our fleet has expanded to more than 600 vehicles and our network now covers all major capital cities. During the year we upgraded our booking processes to make both phone and Internet bookings easier for our customers.

Messenger Post Couriers this year established itself as the regular courier of choice for a number of major Australian business customers in government, financial services, office stationery supply, auto parts distribution, service industries and medical services.

Joint-venture partners

Australia Post is a joint-venture partner with Qantas in the Star Track Express and Australian air Express parcel delivery businesses. Star Track Express specialises in time-critical, business-to-business transport (including delivery of secure and sensitive documents), with particular strength in its national express road freight network. Australian air Express offers complementary time-critical express linehaul and air delivery services.

During the 2005/06 financial year, the combined revenue of Star Track Express and Australian air Express increased by 7.5 per cent.