@shoppingbag*,
Of course you're correct in saying that there aren't a plethora of 22kg parcels ready to attack parcels containing fragile items.
BUT... what has been said here about Australia Post's position on adequate packaging really appears to be correct.
Australia Post have some things to say about fragile or tricky items. They also state that items which were not adequately packaged aren't covered for compensation. They points out that โThere should be enough cushioning around the item to make sure it isn't damaged, and also to make sure it can't cause injury to our staff, or damage our equipment or other mail.โ And of course they state that they โdon't actually offer a 'Fragile' serviceโ, and explain that โwriting on your item won't protect it when it's in a mail bag or being processed through sorting equipment.โ
In Australia Post's Terms & Conditions, they say:
โTerms & Conditions
71.1 No amount which is permitted to be paid under this part shall be payable for loss or damage relating to the carriage of articles:
71.1.3 which, in the reasonable opinion of Australia Post, were not or could not be adequately or appropriately packaged for carriage;โ
โ6.2 Australia Post shall not be liable for any amount claimed under the Service:
6.2.1 where, in the reasonable opinion of Australia Post, damage to or loss of an article arises or indirectly from the failure of the sender to adequately wrap or package the article;โ
โD10.6.1 โ General considerations
It is important that customers pack and make up postal articles in such a
way that fragile contents do not suffer damage by the handling stresses
and pressures to which the article will be inevitably subject to during postal
carriage.
Notices such as FRAGILE or THIS WAY UP are of no use once the article is in a
mail bag or at any time that it is not being handled as an individual article.
D10.6.2 โ Glass, crockery, cameras, electronic equipment
Senders should pack glass, crockery, cameras and electronic equipment
such as video recorders, radios or computers in rigid outer boxes of metal,
wood, fibreboard, strong corrugated cardboard or strong plastic. Wrap each
item separately. To prevent movement of the items within the box and to
absorb pressure and knocks, use plenty of cushioning material, such as
wood wool, cotton wool, felt pads, corrugated cardboard shredded paper,
tissue paper or non-flammable cellulose materials.
D10.6.3 โ Pictures, maps, charts, calendars
Protect pictures or similar items such as maps, charts or calendars with
strong material such as layers of corrugated cardboard. If practicable, roll
the picture round a wooden rod and enclose it in a strong mailing tube.
For framed pictures, protect both the front and back with strong rigid
material such as boards or strong plastic that are larger than the frame.
Place cushioning material between the frame, the recessed surface of the
picture and the protecting boards. Remove glass from framed pictures to
avoid damage to the picture if the glass breaks.
[...]
D10.9 โ Heavy items
Pack heavy items in rigid containers securely tied with string or twine. Use
sufficient cushioning material to prevent the contents moving within the
container. If the item, such as a computer, has fragile components, refer to
D10.6 โ Fragile items.
Wrap nuts, bolts and small machine parts with heavy-grade material.โ
So... to sum up, items need to be well cushioned, double-boxed if necessary, with plenty of bubble-wrap and wood wool and so on, with sufficient use of strong rigid boxes (sometimes even in metal or wood!), and so that the packaging will protect against "damage by the handling stresses and pressures to which the article will be inevitably subject to during postal carriage." While I can't find any mention of parcels needing to be able to withstand 22 kg or 20 kg, etc., it makes sense to think about the maximum stresses and pressures at least including the maximum weight of other parcels. So... it's more from inference than directly stated, at least that I can see on AP's website.
(Remember that AP's T&Cs make clear mention that AP gets to decide what is adequate packaging and what is not.) Underestimating the need for cushioning and protection and separate packaging of individual items would just make it easy for AP to stamp "DENIED" on the claim form!
