Australia Post Releases Christmas Deadlines 

According to a statement from Australia Post, the company has been planning for Peak all year, focusing on increasing its capacity and improving its services. “From investing in its delivery infrastructure to providing better visibility of parcels through its network, Australia Post is confident it’s on track to deliver a successful ecommerce and peak season.”

Last year, Australia Post delivered over 52 million parcels in the lead up to Christmas and is expecting an ecommerce sales boom this year. 

This year, with more customers waiting for sales events to do their shopping, the push to get parcels delivered in time has become tighter than ever. 

Australia Post has lain out the following dates to ensure Christmas shopping gets delivered in time.

Delivery Deadlines for Businesses

Australia Post has recommended businesses lodge their parcels for parcel post by Tuesday 19 December, express post by Thursday 21 December, and StarTrack Premium and Express by Thursday 21 December.

Delivery Deadlines for Consumers

Consumers should get their orders in by Monday December 18 for standard parcel post, and express by Thursday 21 December. Consumers in WA have a tighter deadline of December 15 for standard and December 20 for fast track. NT consumers have even less time with the 14th of December as their cut off for standard post. 

Service Improvements

Australia Post is rolling out a new service ahead of the expected delivery boom, aimed at making it easier for people to collect undelivered parcels. The new service aims to address the biggest complaint the service provider receives.  When Australia Post drivers are unable to safely deliver a parcel to a customer’s address and cannot return it to the nearest post office during opening hours, they will place the parcel in a free Australia Post parcel locker.

The locker will be within a kilometre of the customer’s address and open all hours with parcels secured and available for collection for up to 48 hours. Customers wanting to register for a free parcel locker can do so via the AusPost app on the Apple Store or Google Play.

Gary Starr, executive general manager, parcel, post and e-commerce services, at Australia Post, said, “We know customers are very busy toward the end of the year, so AusPost is supporting them through more convenient delivery options. Collecting missed deliveries from nearby parcel lockers means customers who aren’t home for their delivery and can’t make it to the Post Office can still collect their parcels via our parcel locker network.

“We delivered 52 million parcels last December and we’re expecting another huge festive season this year, driven by the growing popularity of cyber sales events. Providing customers with enhanced flexibility, security and convenience by offering a way for them to collect their parcels at a time that suits their schedule is just another way we are supporting them at this time,” he said.