Australia Post continues to be the country’s premier in-person bill payment provider. The number of bill-payment partners increased from 633 to 681 this year.

The transaction volumes of our on-line bill payment channel grew by a total of 18 per cent during the year. Phone bill payment transactions fell by 16 per cent, largely as a result of some major billers opting to provide their own internal bill payment solutions.

In addition to our own electronic bill payment channels, we are also managing Internet bill payment services – branded with each company’s own name – for a number of large companies, including the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) and Western QBE.

A total of 75 billers (up from 70 last year) are now using our Billmanager service, which allows the billers’ customers to develop and follow individual bill payment plans based on their projected expenses for the entire year. The number of payments made using Billmanager – which is particularly suited to bills that arrive regularly, such as gas, electricity and rates – also grew (by 39 per cent) during the 2005/06 financial year. Payment is available in person, over the phone or Internet, or by scheduled direct debit.