Aust Post delivers $244m digital dividend Australia Post delivered the federal government a $244m dividend but mail volumes are still falling. AUSTRALIA Post has delivered the federal government a $244 million dividend in 2012/13, but warns a decline in regular mail bodes badly for the business. The postal agency's $312 million after-tax profit, up 10.9 per cent on 2011/12, came via strong growth in online shopping, the purchase of the StarTrack parcels service and cuts to running costs. However, mail volumes continue to fall as more people turn to email. "Australia Post now delivers one billion fewer letters per year than we did in 2008 due to the shift by both businesses and consumers to digital means of communication," chief executive Ahmed Fahour said in a statement. Mr Fahour said the volume drop and the absence of a price rise for stamps during the year led to the regulated mail business losing $218.4 million in the past financial year. Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said the government has no plans to privatise Australia Post and Labor is opposed to the sale.