Topics: AusPost fuel surcharge, Farrer byelection, Labor’s economic mismanagement
Ben Fordham: First on 2GB 873, Australia Post is copping a hammering. They’re being accused of ripping off small businesses. It follows the news that we shared here first on 2GB Breakfast that Australia Post has increased its fuel surcharge to nearly 20 per cent, 19.5 per cent. It’ss going to smash around 30,000 businesses and Australia Post claims the price hike is necessary to deal with rising petrol prices. The Shadow Minister for Communications isn’t convinced. Sarah Henderson says the move is a disgrace, and she joins us on the line right now. Sarah, good morning to you.
Senator Henderson: Ben, very good morning to you.
Ben Fordham: 19.5 per cent. It sounds very heavy.
Senator Henderson: This is a scandalous increase by Australia Post. The minister Anika Wells is doing nothing about it. And as we all know, small businesses are doing it so tough. Ben, many are really struggling to keep the doors open. And with the Coalition’s initiative which is a halving of the fuel excise, at the moment petrol is up marginally, diesel is up 41 per cent. But Australia Post, outrageously, has increased its fuel levy on 30,000 businesses by 306 per cent. What an outrage.
Ben Fordham: So, it’s gone from 4.8 per cent to 19.5 per cent. As you say, an increase of 306 per cent and it’s not in line with the movements of the oil price or petrol prices.
Senator Henderson: No, it’s not. Now we know there is enormous volatility, but because of the halving of the fuel excise, petrol has now come right down, and diesel is still up and pretty volatile. But Australia Post is a taxpayer-funded postal service, and it should be doing everything to support small businesses, not crucify them. How can Australia Post and the government, of course – the government effectively runs Australia Post – how can the government stand by and do nothing when small businesses need so much help? And as we know, there is an increase in parcel deliveries. So, Australia Post is profiting with a fuel crisis because more and more businesses are resorting to sending their goods by post, and Australia Post is doing this. It’s absolutely outrageous. I’ve written to the minister. I have asked her to reverse this gouge. She has declined to do so, but she really has to step up, because this is just not good enough.
Ben Fordham: It’s a tax on business every time they do any business. On the Farrer by-election, your reaction to the weekend’s result?
Senator Henderson: We know we’ve got a lot of hard work to do Ben, to rebuild the trust and faith of Australians. There’s no doubt about it. We were very disappointed with the result. We know, of course, and we’ve seen in the short time that Angus Taylor has been the leader, we’re moving very, very quickly to deliver our policies on immigration, on net zero, on border control, and there’ll be more to come in the Budget Reply this week. Australians are really hurting Ben, as as you well know. This budget is going to be full of broken promises, higher taxes. Labor has lost control of our borders. You’ve got the ISIS brides scandal. So, Australians are very, very angry at the moment. The Labor Party is driving this country off a cliff, there’s a lot of anger out there and we are working very, very hard to rebuild Australians’ trust and faith in us.
Ben Fordham: To get back into government, you guys might need to hop into bed with Pauline Hanson.
Senator Henderson: We are certainly aligned on one mission, and that is to get rid of this dreadful government, because this dreadful government is ruining our country. It is, as I say, it is so difficult just to keep the doors open if you run a small business. The cost of living is crippling families Ben, the budget is out of control. The uncontrolled spending is driving up inflation and interest rates time and time again. Families are really suffering, people are really hurting, and so we are – certainly in the by election, of course – we preferenced the Nats as our first preference, and then One Nation. But we are aligned in getting rid of a truly terrible government.
Ben Fordham: All right, we’ll have further analysis of that this morning. Good to talk to you. Thanks so much for your time.
Senator Henderson: Great to talk to you as well Ben, thanks so much.
Ben Fordham: Sarah Henderson, the Shadow Minister for Communications.