From 4 January 2016, Australia Post has changed delivery times for letters sent within Australia. This will affect contractual notice provisions that refer to delivery in “the ordinary course of post”.

There is now a choice of three different delivery speeds when sending a letter:

• Express post – next business day guaranteed
• Priority post – one to four business days (depending on the delivery destination).
• Regular post – up to two business days longer than priority post. (Therefore, delivery could take up to six business days.)

Businesses should consider and, if necessary, amend, existing contract notice provisions to align them with the new delivery timeframes.

Background: What is “the ordinary course of post” and why is it important?