AUSTRALIA Post has committed to continue talking to Tasmanian politicians, but appears to be sticking to its decision to scrap next-day interstate delivery services.
Tasmanian politicians are lobbying Australia Post management and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy in a bid to stop plans to downgrade regional Tasmania's express delivery service from April 8.
This week, Bass Labor MHA Geoff Lyons said Australia Post management had agreed to consider setting an earlier deadline that would enable them to meet the next-day delivery guarantee for interstate mail.
Tasmanian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson is organising a cross-party delegation with Mr Lyons and a Tasmanian Liberal senator to meet with Australia Post chief executive officer Ahmed Fahour in Canberra next week.
``It needs to be tri-partisan and we need to send them a clear message,'' Senator Whish-Wilson said.
He did not accept Australia Post's justification for the decision and blamed cost-cutting.
Yesterday, Australia Post did not answer a list of questions from The Examiner, including a request for more information about the air freight arrangements blamed for the change, but issued a brief statement.
A spokeswoman said express post products would continue to get priority with the majority still delivered the next business day if posted to a destination within the express post network.
``Australia Post continues to have discussions with Mr Lyons and other Tasmanian representatives about these changes.''
She said express post mailed in Launceston was sent to Launceston Airport and then flown to the mainland.