Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King today criticised the decision of Australia Post to end next-day mail delivery services in regional Victoria from the beginning of March.
“As a result of today’s decision, mail sent locally is to be transferred to Dandenong for sorting before being on forwarded to Melbourne or sent back to our region for distribution to local towns,” Ms King said.
“Even though Australia Post has said next-day services for local mail will remain for now – mail sent to Melbourne or to smaller towns in our region is likely to take at least two days to arrive.
“In addition to a reduction in services, local residents are being asked to pay more with the cost for posting a standard letter increasing to 70 cents.
“People in regional Victoria pay the same for their mail service as they do in the cities but they’re not getting the same services.”
Treasurer, Joe Hockey recently refused to rule out the privatisation of Australia Post in its planned sell-off of Commonwealth assets.
“Following proposals to dismantle Medicare and introduce a ‘GP Tax’ – I am concerned the Abbott Government may also sell-off our national postal service,” Ms King said.
“I call on Communications Minister, Malcolm Turnbull to recommit to keeping Australia Post in public ownership.
“The community has already suffered enough from the Abbott Government’s attack on regional investment, services and employment.
“It’s time the Government stood by our hard working local postal workers to ensure their jobs are secure and the quality local mail services our community receives from the Ballarat Mail Centre continue.”