The Federal Opposition said it is not going to stand by and watch the Albanese Government destroy Australia Post retail outlets like the Cobargo Post Office.
Later today the Coalition will attempt to join with the cross bench in the Senate to set up a parliamentary inquiry into the Australia Post.
Shadow Communications Minister, Senator Sarah Henderson said the continual cutting back of services is not on.
“I know the incredible role that the Cobargo Post Office plays in its community,” Senator Henderson said.
“They’re a lifeline. They are the heart of the community,” she said.
“Post offices play an incredibly important role in delivering vital services in paying bills, in banking, and in keeping people connected with their friends and family.
“We are not going to stand by and watch the Albanese Government destroy our retail post office network. It is really shocking the secret plan that we have uncovered and we are going to find this very very hard.”
The Coalition has lodged a motion for a Senate inquiry to hold the government and Australia Post to account on plans for mass closures of post offices across this country.
“We need truth. We need transparency and the Senate inquiry is going to not only ensure, we get to the bottom of this scandal, but to give licensed post office owners, small businesses, the opportunity to have their say,” Senator Henderson said.
“This is a shocking secret plan and we are not going to stand here and tolerate this. We are going to fight very, very hard for the regional communities right across this great country who depend on their local post office,” he said.
“Annika Wells is a minister missing in action. She’s failing in so many different parts of her portfolio. She’s been caught up in a terrible travel rorts scandal and now, of course, she has turned her back to this secret plan.
“We actually had evidence in estimates about the fact that there was no plan for post office closures and yet then we discovered that the board had two weeks prior approved a plan to target both licensed post offices in Victoria and New South Wales, as well as across the regions.
“We are very concerned. Australia Post is talking about making format conversions, which we can only interpret as meaning mass closures, mash, mass, consolidation, and the downgrading of licensed post offices.
“So this is just not good enough. We need honesty. We need truth and we need transparency. We have not got this from Australia Post, and that’s why the coalition is pursuing a Senate inquiry.”
