Pauline Hanson reserves decision on Australia Post

Pauline Hanson tentatively supports changes to Australia Post’s delivery services pending a Senate inquiry into the proposal.

Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate. Picture: AAP

Pauline Hanson has thrown her support behind Australia Post chief executive Christine Holgate but reserved her final decision on backing regulatory changes into postal services until a Senate ­inquiry is completed.

Senator Hanson said “everyone is playing games” over the changes that would allow Australia Post to deliver every second day in cities and extend delivery times on some routes.

Labor and the Greens are seeking to overturn the changes, which will be reviewed next June. Senator Hanson’s One Nation and the other crossbench party, Centre ­Alliance, control four critical votes in letting them proceed.

“I’m concerned about Australian jobs. Sometimes the government and opposition aren’t always upfront and this is why I always do my own research,” Senator Hanson said.

“I’ve spent days, I’ve spent hours on this talking to the unions, the government, the CEO (of Australia Post) and I was able to then say let’s bring this Senate inquiry sooner rather than later and stop playing these political games.

“So I will proceed with it and I then will make my final decision because it will come down to me about the disallowance motion.”

Australia Post requested the regulatory relief from the government in March to help it combat coronavirus-led restrictions such as strict social-distancing measures and travel bans. It has also suspended its priority letters service, which accounts for 12 per cent of daily letter volumes.

The unions warned the changes would put 2000 posties out of work — a claim which Australia Post dismissed, with Ms Holgate promising crossbench senators that there would be no forced redundancies under the measures. Meanwhile, opposition communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland labelled the changes a hoax, stating when Australia Post requested government assistance in March, addressed letter volumes were an estimated 4 per cent above trend for that month.

Senator Hanson said she would not support a disallowance if it was tabled tomorrow, but stressed she wanted to complete the inquiry before she made her final decision.

Labor sought the inquiry, the final report of which was set to be completed next March. But Senator Hanson said that timing was ridiculous, given the regulatory changes were scheduled for review three months later.

“I stood and said this needs to be done sooner rather than later and the Senate inquiry will be ­finalised on August 11. Let’s see what the findings of that is. That will still give them a day or two to bring on the disallowance motion.”