2009-10 Annual Report - Australia Post

stAtutory rePortinG reQuirements (continued)
for the year ended 30 June 2010
maintaining heritage properties
the cost of repairing and maintaining heritage-listed properties
in 2009–10 was $1.5 million.
medical/educational remote Area Parcel service
the Medical/educational remote area parcel service provides reduced
postage rates for parcels containing health and educational material
that are sent to and from people living in remote communities. in the
2009–10 reporting period, revenue foregone is estimated at $126,260.
superannuation
during 2009–10 australia post complied with all relevant guidelines
and made no significant changes to superannuation arrangements
for employees.
occupational health and safety (oh&s) report
the following information is presented in accordance with the requirements
of s74 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 (oh&s act 1991).
a number of measures were taken during the year to assist in providing
for the health, safety and welfare at work of employees and contractors
of the corporation. these included:
• directing oh&s improvements through oh&s plans at national,
state and workplace facility levels. these plans provide for oh&s
management systems and supervisory accountability; auditing the
effectiveness of the oh&s management system; induction and skills
training; compliance with corporate and statutory oh&s requirements;
workplace safety audits for hazard identification and control; accident
prevention initiatives targeted at priority accident types; and employee
involvement in oh&s
• auditing oh&s legislative and corporation oh&s policy compliance
through the australia post occupational health and safety Management
system Quality assurance program. the corporation recorded an
overall high level of conformance with oh&s audit criteria
• maintaining oh&s committees throughout the corporation
• providing oh&s related training for health and safety representatives,
managers, supervisors and staff throughout australia post to develop
a greater understanding of corporate and statutory requirements
• conducting the safe postie campaign to raise awareness of the issue
of postie safety through newspaper and letter box drop publicity
• training motorcyclists in safe riding behaviour, undertaking risk
reviews of motorcycle rounds; reinforcing existing safe work practices,
including regular motorcycle maintenance inspections and auditing
compliance with procedures
• implementing new high-visibility clothing for motorcyclist postal
delivery officers (pdos) and coloured panniers for motorcycles
to further improve the visibility of pdos to other road users
• continuing to implement our harassment discrimination Bullying
policy and procedures to assist managers and employees to
understand these issues and provide a guide for managers to
assist in preventing and managing bullying
• implementing initiatives under the enforceable undertaking entered
into with comcare in relation to an alleged failure by australia post
to observe it duties under the oh&s act
• advising contractors on safe work practices
• continuing the implementation of the corporation’s employee health
and Wellbeing strategy, including confidential staff counselling
services for our employees.
as a result of these and other initiatives, the corporation met the injury
prevention performance targets of the safety, rehabilitation and
compensation commission.
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AustrAliA Post AnnuAl rePort 2009–10 | Financial and statutory reports
during the year:
• 659 incidents were notified to comcare in accordance with s68
of the OHS Act 1991.
• 12 provisional improvement notices (s29) were given.
• no improvement notices (s47) were given.
• no prohibition notices (s46) were given.
• 15 investigations were conducted relating to:
– motor vehicle fatality (1)
– alleged harassment (2)
– amenities (1)
– fire and emergency procedures (1)
– mail delivery, including motorcycle operations (1)
– incidents involving members of the public (2)
– plant and machinery safety (7).
Freedom of information report
in the year to 30 June 2010, australia post received 33 applications
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (cwlth).
these were handled as follows:
Granted in full 11
Granted in part 8
access refused 9
Withdrawn 1
on hand at 30 June 2010 4
there were two applications for internal review during the year.
Both applications resulted in the decision of the Freedom of information
officer being substantially affirmed.
no additional costs were incurred in the handling of Freedom of
information requests and related responsibilities in 2009–10.
application fees and charges of $570.00 were collected.
Freedom of information Act, section 8
the following information is presented in accordance with section 8
of the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
organisation and functions
australia post has a Melbourne based headquarters, five state based
commercial administrations and four joint ventures. headquarters is
responsible for strategic planning, policy and support activities. state
based commercial administrations direct day-to-day business activities
within the states.
Consultative arrangements
australia post consults directly with major mail users, customers and
various bodies to respond to customers needs.
a joint Mailing industry advisory committee operates with the Major
Mail users association for the purpose of enhancing relationships
between australia post and its major customers.
the stakeholder council provides a further external forum for discussing
australia post’s services and performance. the council’s charter also
includes a corporate responsibility role.
australia post also consults extensively with private mail users through
local managers and customer contact services.
Market research is undertaken regularly to monitor how well
australia post is satisfying customer needs and how the postal system
is regarded by the public.
australia post’s letter delivery performance is independently audited.
Formal reports are published on a quarterly basis.