Labor bid to stamp out Post changes

Federal Labor will seek to overturn the Morrison government’s temporary Australia Post relief measures, condemning them as a “cheap shot” at posties.

The postal service has also withdrawn its more expensive priority mail product and removed its next-day delivery guarantee for Express Post. At the same time, Australia Post’s parcel business has been booming, as people turn to online shopping during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Federal Labor will seek to overturn the Morrison government’s temporary Australia Post relief measures, condemning them as a “cheap shot” at posties and a move that will “scale back services, slash jobs and cut wages”.

In a joint statement opposition communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland and industrial relations spokesman Tony Burke said Labor would seek to disallow the regulations in the current sitting period, and would not consent to what they called a “breach of trust with the community”.

They said Labor would also move to establish a Senate inquiry into Australia Post to ensure the temporary reform measures, which they are concerned will become permanent, receive appropriate scrutiny.

The government granted Australia Post temporary relief from its community services obligations in April, citing a fall in demand for letters and other challenges during the pandemic.

The measures, which apply until June 30 next year, allow Australia Post to deliver letters every second business day, instead of daily, in metropolitan areas and to push out delivery times on interstate routes.

The postal service has also withdrawn its more expensive priority mail product and removed its next-day delivery guarantee for Express Post. At the same time, Australia Post’s parcel business has been booming, as people turn to online shopping during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Ms Rowland and Mr Burke said unlike the previous letters reform, which resulted in two-speed mail being introduced in January 2016, there was no consultation or ability to discuss alternative solutions.

Meanwhile, the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union, has warned the jobs of more than 2000 postal workers are under threat after Australia Post managers allegedly told workers a restructuring of delivery services could lead to the jobs of one in four posties being cut.

The Australian revealed on Tuesday that Ms Rowland has been gathering information about the temporary measures, which were discussed at federal shadow cabinet yesterday.

“The regulations slash by half the frequency of postie delivery rounds, leaving the jobs of up to one in four posties in limbo and many other indirect jobs at risk,” Ms Rowland and Mr Burke said.

“Labor considers the parcels boom is an opportunity to preserve and create jobs — not cut them. There was no consultation on these regulations before they were announced, and there was no opportunity to examine the merits and impacts of alternative approaches.”

Mrs Rowland and Mr Burke said they understood that “change can be difficult” but there should be an open discussion and consultation in regard to the “essential community service”.

“If Australia Post and the government wanted to make a case for change they should have fronted up and given an honest account of their plans. Instead, they have chosen to hide behind COVID-19 in the hope no one would notice the temporary changes and workforce impact would be irreversible come July 2021.”

Australia Post issued a statement on Monday afternoon, responding to “false claims re­garding proposed changes”.

“­No postie that is directly impacted by the implementation of the (alternating delivery model) will be forced to accept a redundancy. Australia Post also has no plans to cut posties’ take-home pay. These changes have been requested to enable Australia Post to continue to offer important community services and remain sustainable for the future.”