At Australia Post, we are continually evolving to meet the changing expectations of our customers and communities, and to deliver a better tomorrow.
As a Government Business Enterprise (GBE), we are a self-funded business with both commercial and Community Service Obligations. Any profit we earn is either used to pay a dividend to our shareholder (the Australian Government) or reinvested in our assets and services.
Each year we deliver more than 2.5 billion items across the country as we continue to make improvements to the reliability, performance and efficiency of our networks.
In FY23, we invested $343.1 million in our network to support the growth in parcels and make Australia Post more sustainable, bringing the total investment over the past three years to $1.2 billion. This included Australia Post’s first dual-named facility, Boorna Wangkiny Mia, in Perth. The facility represents an $82 million investment and, at 23,000sqm, is capable of processing 14,000 parcels per hour.
The significant growth in eCommerce has not been limited to major capital cities with regional and rural areas also seeing a noticeable rise in online shopping activity. To ensure our facilities in these areas can accommodate and deliver these increased parcel volumes, we have commenced a regional investment plan that will see over 170 of our delivery facilities, retail sites and business hubs updated over the coming years.
Our focus is on helping deliver increased volumes with speed, flexibility and accuracy that results in improved efficiency for our customers - and happy receivers!
We have deployed 36,000 new scanning devices to our posties, drivers, facility teams and Post Offices to improve delivery efficiency and service to customers. We continue to invest in large-scale automation projects at sites including Sydney West Letters Facility, Melbourne Gateway Facility, Alexandria Delivery Facility, Adelaide Parcel Facility and Perth Parcel Facility.
Automation is also a key feature of our Brisbane parcel processing and delivery facility. The largest facility of its kind in the southern hemisphere, it features automatic guided vehicles and robotic arms helping move parcels safely and securely. The facility can process 700,000 parcels per day, or 35,000 parcels per hour.
We’ve been delivering for Australia for more than 200 years. Our vast network of processing and delivery centres, 4,100+ Post Offices and our extended workforce of approximately 65,000 people helps us keep Australians connected, reaching more than 12.6 million delivery points.
Research by Deloitte Access Economics shows our post offices are regional and rural Australia’s most present service provider and our expansive network helps us facilitate business activity, enable connectivity and create employment in these areas.
As presented in our 2022 eCommerce Industry Report, more than 80% of Australian households are now shopping online. In 2021, online shopping accounted for around 19.3 per cent of all retail spending.1
With this growth in online shopping comes growing consumer expectations around delivery options. Consumers want control of when and where items are delivered and expect greater visibility and tracking to manage their business efficiently.
We’ve invested $20 million in upgrading our systems to cloud-based solutions to improve parcel scanning and tracking within the network. This is simplifying the tracking process and providing consumers with visibility of their items throughout the network.
By making it easier for merchants to enable tracking notifications for their customers, we’ve helped increase the proportion of customers who receive tracking notifications from one-third to nearly half.
1 Australia Post. 2022 Inside Australian Online Shopping Ecommerce Industry Report, 2022
We are continuously investing in improvements to our network and security to protect our people, facilities and the items our customers trust us to carry. This includes our recent $50 million investment in security compliance and equipment upgrades including CCTV, alarm systems and air cargo screening technology.
We have also increased security measures to enable screening of domestic air cargo across a dozen facilities throughout Australia in accordance with the Australian Government’s strengthened aviation requirements.
StarTrack pricing
Additional Charges may be added as applicable to the Service Rates charged. Standard Rate Schedules apply when sending to or from locations that have not been quoted for in your Services Agreement.
An Oversize Charge will apply, in addition to Service Rates and any other applicable fees, to all items carried using our StarTrack Services (excluding Courier) across the following dimensions and/or weights:
| Applicability | Dimension or dead weight | Charge band | Oversize charge (excl GST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applicable to any item excluding pallets or skids | Dead Weight Over 32kg | Level 0 | $90 |
| Any dimension from 150cm to 199cm | Level 1 | $25 | |
| Applicable to any item including pallets and skids | Any dimension from 200cm to 299 cm | Level 2 | $45 |
| Any dimension from 300cm to 399cm | Level 3 | $85 | |
| Any dimension from 400cm to 499cm | Level 4 | $250 | |
| Any dimension from 500cm to 599cm | Level 5 | $450 | |
| Any dimension 600cm or over | Level 6 | $600 | |
| Applicable to pallets and skids only | Height over 180cm | Level 1 | $20 |
| Length or width from 150cm to 199cm | Level 1 | $20 |
This charge will be applied per item at the applicable rate based on the dimensions or weight of the item. Where an item exceeds multiple dimensions or weights, the item will be charged at the higher charge. Weights and dimensions of items will be based on data declared by you, unless we measure and assess otherwise.
Additional criteria apply. Download our Oversize Charge Help Guide (PDF 682kB) for more details.
Items exceeding our maximum weight and size limits require manual handling at additional expense and time. To ensure we continue to maintain a fast and efficient service for all customers, a Manual Handling Surcharge of $141 (excluding GST) applies to any StarTrack Road Express or Premium service items that are below the minimum or above the maximum following limits:
Road Express
- Minimum dimensions: 5cm
- Maximum dimensions: 117cm x 60cm x 60cm
- Maximum dead weight: 20kgs
Additional criteria apply. Download our Road Express MHS Help Guide (PDF 548kB) for more details.
Premium
- Minimum dimensions: Cartons with any dimension of 5cm
- Maximum dimensions: 105cm x 60cm x 60cm
- Maximum dead weight: 22kgs
Additional criteria apply. Download our Premium MHS Help Guide (PDF 1.12MB) for more details.
This is consistent with standard industry practice and is in line with other Australia Post Group services.
1 Or such other rate determined by your freight profile, as may be notified to you.
A Security Management Charge of 4.35% is applied to all StarTrack Premium, Next Flight and International services.
We prepare for our busiest time of year by boosting our capacity with more team members, vehicles and infrastructure across our network. But each year it’s costing us more than the last to deliver through this peak period. On 1 November 2023, our terms and conditions were updated to enable a Peak Fee to be applied for items lodged during peak times of high demand.
For the 2024 Peak period, we have committed to absorbing any increased seasonal expenses on behalf of our customers and a Peak Fee will not be applied in 2024.
If a Peak Fee is applied in future peak periods, you will be given 30 days’ notice of the fee (including peak times). Details of the Peak Fee will be published at startrack.com.au/peak-fee.
We explore all available options to keep your items moving during challenging circumstances beyond our control, including natural disasters such as fire and flood and other significant events that disrupt the supply chain. On 1 November 2023, we introduced a Force Majeure Fee. During a Force Majeure Event (as defined in your Services Agreement), where StarTrack finds a means to continue to provide some or all of our Services, we will pass on the additional cost to you in the form of a Force Majeure Fee.
If a Force Majeure Fee is applied, you will be provided with three business days’ notice. Details will be published at startrack.com.au/force-majeure-fee.
Providing accurate details with every lodgement is an important first step in the delivery process and helps ensure your articles reach their destination efficiently.
On 1 November 2023, our terms and conditions were updated to enable a Manifest Correction Fee to be applied on a per-consignment basis where there is a need to correct information in your manifest (including but not limited to incorrectly declared weight and dimensions, lodgement points, destination address, or product or service code).
From 1 July 2024, any StarTrack Consignment identified with an under-declared dead weight may be subject to a Manifest Correction Fee of $3.61 ex GST. (For some customers, the fee will become effective from 1 April 2025.)
To minimise the impact of this fee on your business operations, ensure that your dead weight declarations upon manifest are as accurate as possible. Accurate manifesting forms part our Chain of Responsibility (CoR) obligations and we must all ensure the documentation prepared in relation to lodgements is not false or misleading. Find out more about our CoR obligations.
Australia Post parcel services pricing
From 1 November 2023, the Manual Handling Surcharge no longer applies for oversized parcels found in our network. An Over Maximum Limits Fee took effect on 1 November 2023.
A Security Management Charge of 4.35% is applied to all next day items sent under an Australia Post domestic parcel sending contract.
We prepare for our busiest time of year by boosting our capacity with more team members, vehicles and infrastructure across our network. But each year it’s costing us more than the last to deliver through this peak period. On 1 November 2023, our terms and conditions were updated to enable a Peak Fee to be applied for items lodged during peak times of high demand.
For the 2024 Peak period, we have committed to absorbing any increased seasonal expenses on behalf of our customers and a Peak Fee will not be applied in 2024.
If a Peak Fee is applied in future peak periods, you will be given 30 days’ notice of the fee (including peak times). Details of the Peak Fee will be published at auspost.com.au/peak-fee.
We explore all available options to keep your items moving during challenging circumstances beyond our control, including natural disasters such as fire and flood and other significant events that disrupt the supply chain. On 1 November 2023, we introduced a Force Majeure Fee. During a Force Majeure Event (as defined in your Services Agreement), where Australia Post finds a means to continue to provide some or all of our Services, we will pass on the additional cost to you in the form of a Force Majeure Fee.
If a Force Majeure Fee is applied, you will be provided with three business days’ notice. Details will be published at auspost.com.au/force-majeure-fee.
Providing accurate details with every lodgement is an important first step in the delivery process and helps ensure your articles reach their destination efficiently.
On 1 November 2023, our terms and conditions were updated to enable a Manifest Correction Fee to be applied on a per-article basis where there is a need to correct information in your manifest (including but not limited to incorrectly declared weight and dimensions, lodgement points, destination address, or product or service code).
From 1 July 2024, any Australia Post Domestic Article identified with an under-declared dead weight may be subject to a Manifest Correction Fee of $3.61 ex GST. (For some customers, the fee will become effective from 1 April 2025.)
To minimise the impact of this fee on your business operations, ensure that your dead weight declarations upon manifest are as accurate as possible. Accurate manifesting forms part our Chain of Responsibility (CoR) obligations and we must all ensure the documentation prepared in relation to lodgements is not false or misleading. Find out more about our CoR obligations.
On 1 November 2023, an Over Maximum Limits Fee was introduced to apply to (domestic) parcels that exceed our maximum size and weight limits. Oversized parcels identified at lodgement points may be returned to sender and will incur an Administration Fee of $50.00 (GST inclusive), in addition to the Return to Sender charge specified in your contract. For any oversized parcels which do make it into our network for delivery, Australia Post may apply the Over Maximum Limits Fee of $100.00 (GST inclusive), in addition to the normal delivery charge for that parcel.
We notified customers of updates to our (domestic) maximum size and weight limits in July 2023. From 1 November 2023, the Manual Handling Surcharge for oversized (domestic) parcels no longer applies.
For our International Services, we will provide 30 days’ notice of the Over Maximum Limits Fee (including the fee amount) before it takes effect.
Customers who send parcels that comply with our size and weight limits will not be charged any Over Maximum Limits Fee.
View our Size and Weight Guidelines for domestic and international parcels.
From 1 March 2024, articles lodged for international shipping without despatching your manifest will incur a fee per parcel, in line with your eParcel service agreement. If you’re already submitting your manifest on or before lodgement, you don't need to do anything differently.
View our International Product Guide for important information on how to properly label and prepare manifests.