Australia Post ‘taking no position on same-sex marriage’

Australia Post says it takes no position on same-sex marriage after internal memo circulates encouraging pride march.

Staff have been told any personal views they have on same-sex marriage should not be presented as representative of Australia Post during the postal survey.

Australia Post has clarified it takes no position on same sex marriage after an internal memo was circulated to employees who are also members of an LGBTI network, encouraging them to take part in tomorrow’s Brisbane Pride March.

The memo was sent on Thursday to the PostPride network and urged people to “walk proudly down the streets in support of our LGBTI+ community” although it made no reference to gay marriage or the $122 million postal plebiscite.

The first 100 employees to register were offered “freebies” including PostPride T-shirts, air clappers, flags and whistles.

“By walking behind the PostPride banner at a Pride March we have the opportunity to send a strong message to our employees and community that says we support you,” the memo said. “Keep an eye out for our PostPride flag.”

A spokeswoman for Australia Post said the government-owned business was not a sponsor of the Brisbane Pride March and the memo was aimed at “supporting inclusion.”

“We are proud of our diverse workforce ... Our PostPride network of LGBTI+ employees and supporters have attended the Brisbane Pride March in previous years and are expected to do so again,” the spokeswoman said. “Any employee who attends will do so on their own time.”

“As a Government Business Enterprise Australia Post has no position on the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey. Our role in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey is to deliver the mail, a job we do each and every day.”

Employees have also been told that, during the postal survey, any personal views they have on same-sex marriage should not be presented as representative of Australia Post.

The Brisbane Pride Festival Rally and March promotes itself online as a “tradition going back 27 years” which originated as a community protest movement that evolved into a “demonstration of unity and inclusivity.”

More than 3,000 people participated last year. The event will begin on Brunswick Street at 10.00am where speeches will be made about “important issues currently facing our community” before the “local Dykes on Bikes” will help the March make its way down to New Farm Park.