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The ����ԭ�� is seeking feedback from businesses and consumers on its preliminary view not to object to Australia Post’s proposed stamp price increase of 8.8 per cent from mid-to late-2026.

Australia Post’s draft price notification submitted in December 2025 proposes the following price increases:
 

Australia Post is not proposing to increase the price of concession stamps (60 cents each) or seasonal greeting card stamps (65 cents each).

Earlier this year, Australia Post also increased the number of concession stamps available to eligible consumers from 50 to 75 each year, in response to a recommendation from the ����ԭ��.

After assessing the draft price notification, the ����ԭ�� has found that Australia Post’s reserved letter service revenue is unlikely to exceed its efficient costs.

“Our assessment found Australia Post will likely fall slightly short of covering its efficient costs with the proposed price increase,” ����ԭ�� Commissioner Anna Brakey said.

“Without a price increase on stamps, Australia Post’s reserved letter service would be likely to experience a much larger shortfall.”

Australia Post continues to highlight declining letter volumes as the primary cause of financial pressure on its letter service, with letter volumes forecast to further decline by approximately 10 per cent annually over the coming years.

Despite declining letter volumes, the ����ԭ�� notes that Australia Post’s losses for its reserved letter service appear to be decreasing, in part due to successive stamp price increases in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Further, the ����ԭ�� expects losses from the reserved letter service in 2026-27 will be smaller than Australia Post’s forecast.

Australia Post estimates the proposed price increase will impact the average household by 75 cents per year, but some consumers will be affected more significantly.

“Businesses and organisations who send large mail volumes will be most affected by the proposed price increase, particularly those required by law to communicate by post,” Ms Brakey said.

In forming its preliminary view, the ����ԭ�� considered stakeholder feedback provided in the early-2026 consultation process. While the ����ԭ�� acknowledges public opposition to the proposed increase, it assessed the proposal using a cost-based approach consistent with its role.

The ����ԭ�� does not approve any proposed price increase under the Australia Post price notification framework. Only the Minister for Communications has the power to reject a price increase proposed by Australia Post.

Consultation on the ����ԭ��’s preliminary view paper is open until Monday 22 June 2026.

Submissions can be sent by email to postalservices@accc.gov.au.

For more information about the consultation process, including guidelines for making a submission, see consultation on ����ԭ�� preliminary view.

Note for editors

Australia Post's proposal is not an additional increase to letter costs, but the same draft proposal as previously discussed in this February 2026 media release - ����ԭ�� seeks views on Australia Post's proposed stamp price increase.

Background

Under the Competition and Consumer Act, the ����ԭ�� is responsible for assessing proposed price increases by Australia Post for its reserved ordinary letter services delivered to the regular timetable.

Australia Post’s reserved ordinary letter services are services for which Australia Post has a statutory monopoly and are declared as ‘notified services’ under the Competition and Consumer Act. The current declaration for Australia Post’s notified services is due to expire on 31 December 2028.

The ����ԭ�� must consider Australia Post’s proposed price increases for these services and may decide to:

• not object to the price increase
• not object to a price that is less than that proposed, or
• object to the price increase.

The lodgement by Australia Post of a draft price notification provides the ����ԭ�� with time to undertake a public consultation process and preliminary economic assessment of the proposed increase. Once Australia Post submits a formal price notification, the ����ԭ�� will issue a final decision within 21 days.

Australia Post is also required to provide written notice of the proposed price increase to the Minister for Communications. It can only increase the basic postage rate if the Minister does not disapprove the proposal within 30 days.

The last price notification from Australia Post considered by the ����ԭ�� was in 2024, and prior to that in 2023 and 2022.

While the ����ԭ�� did not object to Australia Post’s last price notification, it made a series of recommendations in its June 2025 decision regarding cost allocation, forecast data and customer engagement. A summary of Australia Post’s implementation of these recommendations is available at Appendix 2 of the draft price notification.