Daily postal deliveries to city residents could be cut under a user-pays system being considered by Australia Post.
The postal service says it’s an option, after it lost $190 million on mail deliveries last year because people are sending fewer letters, which are down 25% on five years ago.
Under a user-pays system, city residents who want their mail delivered faster or more often would have to pay for it.
“If you want it fast, you pay for it … if you want it more frequent you pay more, if you want it express you pay more,” Australia Post chairman John Stanhope told Fairfax media.
He said New Zealand had already tested delivering letters only three days a week and the response of users was “‘that’s ok'”.
Rural customers would continue to have letters delivered five days a week, he said.
Australia Post raised the price of the basic stamp to 60 cents to 70 cents in March, but earnings continue to fall.
Its new corporate plan is due to be handed to the federal government in July.
Source: The guardian