Australia Post calls in security for Mullumbimby, Byron Bay stores over Covid-19 noncompliance

After reports a third of customers were not complying with mask wearing and checking in, extra security had to be called in for these post offices.

Australia Post stores in some northern NSW towns are now being manned by security guards after an alarming number of customers failed to comply with Covid-19 protocols.

At least a third of customers are estimated to have refused to wear masks, use hand sanitiser or check in to the Mullumbimby and Byron Bay stores before the drastic measure despite the region being included in the statewide lockdown.

The union representing Australia Post staff, CEPU, said the actions of a few were putting staff at risk, and as such security guards had been in place since last Saturday at Mullumbimby and Monday at Byron Bay.

Australia Post stores in Byron Bay and Mullumbimby in northern NSW are being manned by security. Picture: Liana Boss

“Union members raised the matter with us last Thursday night after they felt they were not being supported by the local area manager,” branch manager Shane Murphy told NCA NewsWire.

“The union immediately reached out and met with senior management, and on Friday they agreed to the request to place security guards on these outlets to ensure compliance with public health orders on mask wearing and QR code use and to ensure our workers remain safe.

“And so Australia Post offices can remain open for the community, as reliance on postal services has increased 70 per cent during lockdown.

Mr Murphy said mask compliance and QR code use had increased to 95 per cent by Monday.

An Australia Post spokesperson said the health and safety of their staff and communities was of paramount importance. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

An Australia Post spokesperson said the health and safety of their staff and communities was a priority.

“(We have introduced) a suite of safety measures at our post offices and across our network, and (we are) asking our customers to comply with health directions and to check in to post offices when required,” the spokesperson said.

“We now have a security officer at our Mullumbimby and Byron Bay post offices to assist customers in understanding their public health obligations, and we ask for the community’s co-operation in ensuring the health and safety of staff and customers.”

NSW Police would not comment on the rates of Covid-19 compliance in the region.

Security guards have been hired by stores throughout the pandemic to ensure Covid-19 compliance. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

The move by Australia Post comes weeks after the NSW Police Minister floated the idea of supermarkets being required to hire security guards to enforce QR check-ins.

David Elliott told 2GB earlier this month that supermarkets had a “moral obligation to (their) customers to make sure they’re safe”.

“They must employ security guards now,” he said.

But Woolworths said at the time that staff were in place to remind people to check in.

“The overwhelming majority continue to do the right thing in our stores,” a spokesperson told NCA NewsWire earlier this month.

Originally published as Australia Post calls in security for Mullumbimby, Byron Bay stores over Covid-19 noncompliance