Australia Post to release its first charity stamp for Queensland Disaster Appeal

Tuesday, 25 January 2011

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Australia Post Managing Director and CEO Ahmed Fahour today announced the release of Australia's first Charity Stamps to raise funds for those affected by the Queensland floods.

The Premier and Mr Fahour made the announcement at the official Australia Day Lunch at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Featuring five images from the Queensland floods, the 60 cent stamps will be available in a sheet of 10 that will be sold for $8, with $2 from the sale of each sheet to be donated to the Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal.

Australia Post has printed an initial run of 250,000 Charity Stamp sheets but will print as many stamps as required to meet demand.

Australia Post hopes the initiative will generate substantial additional support from around the nation for the Premier's Appeal and importantly maintain awareness of the plight of so many Queenslanders over coming months.

The Premier said while the immediate crisis was over, Queenslanders had a long road ahead as the recovery task gets underway.

"People from Queensland, Australia, and all over the world have dug deep and so far donated over $140 million to give Queenslanders in need a helping hand.

"It's a long road to recovery, and I urge everyone to keep donating to the appeal which will help thousands of Queenslanders affected by one of the worst natural disasters in our history.

"Australia Post's Charity Stamps are a great way of enabling Australians to contribute to the fundraising efforts.

"The support Queenslanders have had from fellow Queenslanders and Australians alike has been nothing short of amazing.

"I would like to thank Australia Post for demonstrating their support for Queensland, by dedicating their first Charity Stamp to Queenslanders affected by these devastating floods.

Mr Fahour said like Australians everywhere, he was shocked by the scenes of devastation and the many tragic stories that emerged from the Queensland floods.

"Our business was directly impacted by the disaster, with more than 70 post offices forced to close, flood damaged facilities, and many of our own people suffering loss and damage to their homes.

"Over the coming months the images on these Charity Stamps should serve as a stark reminder that the recovery process will be long and hard.

"Hopefully, these stamps will also remind all Australians of the on-going need to help out Queenslanders as they rebuild their flood-affected communities."

To launch the Charity Stamps initiative Mr Fahour presented Premier Bligh with a $100,000 cheque, on behalf of Australia Post, for the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal.

The stamps will be available at Australia Post outlets nationwide from Thursday, 27 January and online at the Australia Post Shop.

In addition to selling the Charity Stamps, Australia Post is supporting Queensland's flood-affected communities by:

• Making a $100,000 donation to the Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal.
• Accepting public donations to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal, via postal outlets nationwide with $677,618 raised to date.
• Distributing Disaster Relief Funds in some flood-affected areas - on behalf of the Queensland Department of Communities.
• Offering free mail redirections for those who are unable to have mail delivered to their home address due to flood damage.
• Establishing an Employee Relief Fund, that is especially to benefit Australia Post staff who have been affected by the floods. Australia Post is matching staff donations to this fund, dollar-for-dollar, up to $250,000.

Australia Post is also developing plans for a scheme in which postal managers in flood-affected areas will work with local community representatives to provide grants for reinstating community facilities that were damaged during the floods.

Media contact:

Premier's Office Media Unit (07) 3225 8866
Australia Post Media line (03) 9106 6666