Australia Post to raise basic postage rate to $1.85 in September

Australia Post announced that the basic postage rate for a standard letter will rise from $1.70 to $1.85, effective 1 September. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it would not object to the increase. Prices for larger letters will also rise, with 0‑125 g items moving from $3.40 to $3.70 and 125‑250 g items from $5.10 to $5.55.

The hike is driven by a steep decline in letter volumes, now under 3 % of total mail and the lowest level since the late 1930s. Australia Post says the increase is needed to keep its reserved letter services financially sustainable and estimates it will add about $0.75 to the average household’s annual postage costs. The company also increased the yearly concession‑stamp allocation from 50 to 75 to lessen the impact on eligible customers.