Australia Post suspends parcel pickups for three days as Covid lockdowns hit staff

A backlog of deliveries and staff caught in lockdowns means the postal service will pause parcel collections from retailers for three days across southern states.

Australia Post workers in Sydney this week.

Australia Post will suspend parcel collection from retailers for three days from Saturday at it battles a chronic staff shortage due to Covid-19 shutdowns in southern states.

The suspension will affect parcel collections in NSW, Victoria, and ACT from Saturday 7am to Tuesday 7am dealing a potentially costly blow to online retailers and merchants.

Australia Post executive general manager business, government and international Gary Starr told customers Wednesday the postal service had close to 500 people out of its workforce on any one day due to self-isolation and testing requirements.

Mr Starr said the impact of the shutdown was putting unprecedented pressure on the postal network as it managed staff shortages, temporary facility closures, and parcel volumes as high as Christmas peak periods.

Curvy chief executive Wes Blundy said the suspension of parcel collection would have a major impact on the online bra retailer amid a surge in sales.

Mr Blundy, whose Sydney-based firm last year purchased Brisbane-based lingerie firm Big Girls Don’t Cry (Anymore), said online sales had soared during the pandemic with parcel delivery serving a vital role.

Australia Post in shutdown Sydney this week

“We did in excess of $1.1m in sales in August compared to $186,000 in August 2019,” said Mr Blundy.

“It is an unprecedented move to suspend the parcel service, and I do hope this is a one off, rather than a recurring issue.

“With the busy peak of Black Friday and Christmas ahead, I hope that Australia Post is planning for extra capacity and all scenarios.”

Australia Post said the temporary suspension would help Australia Post clear excess parcel volumes in NSW, ACT and Victoria.

Post offices will remain open, including for people to pick up their parcels, deliveries were continuing and post boxes will continue to be cleared.

“Our team will be processing all weekend to reduce these volumes to a safe and manageable level and help free up capacity,” Mr Starr said.

“With two of our largest States and some 15 million people in lockdown, the fluctuations in customer online shopping have significantly increased.

“We are also dealing with the impacts of the Delta strain and in any given day, we have close to 500 people out of our workforce as they follow necessary self-isolation and testing before clearance back to work.”

Services provided for Express Post, Premium and Startrack Express would remain unchanged across the network. Normal medical shipments will still be accepted