Business owner says Aus Post committed to Kingston Village shopping centre post office then reneged
The competition watchdog will probe the process that led to a post office licence being granted at the Marketplace Shopping Centre in Ocean Grove.
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The competition watchdog will probe the process that led to a post office licence being granted at the Marketplace Shopping Centre in Ocean Grove.
The investigation into the licence and the post office, due to open in February, follows a complaint to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission from a Victorian Senator representing a business ownerwho appliedbut missed out on the licence.
Kingston Village Lotto and Gifts owner Cameron Waring said he and Senator Sarah Henderson were given a “strong commitment” from Australia Post on July 28, two months before the post office tender process began, that the post office would be established at the Kingston Village Shopping Centre.
But last month Australia Post decided to grant the licence to a party that will set up business at the Ocean Grove Marketplace about three kilometres away.
Mr Waring said Australia Post had over promised and under delivered.
“(An Australia Post employee) turned around and said (during the July 28 meeting) that ‘we are going to put a fixed-term post office in the Kingston Village Shopping Centre in an existing retailer,” Mr Waring said.
Mr Waring moved his business from the Ocean Grove Marketplace to Kingston Village about a year ago and said his business and others at Kingston Village would be at a financial losses because of the Australia Post decision.
His version of events is backed up by Ms Henderson who was on the July 28 phone hook up with Australia Post, and who has complained to the ACC about Australia Post’s conduct she considers “misleading or deceptive.”
Ms Henderson said management at Australia Post denied a commitment was made to put the new post office at Kingston Village.
“It goes to the fundamental integrity of Australia Post, it goes to their corporate ethics and it goes to their failure to tell the truth when you see this sort of situation unravel.”
An Australia Post spokesman did not respond to a question asking if its staff had given Mr Waring or Ms Henderson a commitment that a post office would be established at the Kingston Village.
The spokesman said the tender process for the Ocean Grove post office was run across four weeks concluding in September.
“The process was held over four weeks and advertised in local newspapers, and on the Australian Tenders website.
“We received three applicants, all of whom went through an appropriate selection process, including an interview.
“The successful applicants best met the public selection criteria which was experience in managing a small business, ability to provide high level customer service and good interpersonal and leadership skills.”
Spokeswoman for the ACCC, Geesche Jacobsen, confirmed the matter was under investigation.
“We are aware of the complaint and are currently looking into it.”
Ms Jacobsen did not respond to questions about the scope of the investigation.
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Originally published as Business owner says Aus Post committed to Kingston Village shopping centre post office then reneged
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