Labor hypocrisy on changes to Australia Post letter deliveries

Joint media release with
The Hon David Coleman MP
Shadow Minister Communications

6 December 2023

The Albanese Government stands guilty of extreme hypocrisy over its plans to reduce letter delivery services.

In Opposition, Labor fought against plans to modernise Australia Post letter deliveries.

Back in June 2020, then Shadow Communications Minister Michelle Rowland ran a social media campaign opposing a similar Coalition plan.

In Parliament, Labor moved a disallowance motion against the Government’s efforts to modernise Australia Post.

On the day of the motion, Michelle Rowland posted on Facebook that:

“Labor vows to oppose Australia Post cuts’ and warned that changes would ‘place one in four postie jobs at risk.”

Of course, that was just political posturing. Today, the Minister is championing a similar plan that would see letter deliveries cut to every second business day.

Prime Minister Albanese said of former Prime Minister Scott Morrison in April 2021:

“And we know now that he doesn't want to deliver the mail either. The fact is that this is an essential service.”

Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman said the Government has completely contradicted its previous position on Australia Post letter deliveries.

“The Albanese Government are hypocrites when it comes to reform at Australia Post,” Mr Coleman said.

“It’s one thing before the election, something completely different after the election. Labor seems to have forgotten what it said about these exact issues when in Opposition. Or more likely, they want everyone else to forget.

“We will examine these proposals for change at Australia Post.

“In particular, we will continue to fight to defend post offices in rural and regional areas, especially in light of today’s comments about changes to the geographic classification of Australia Post retail outlets. Post offices are often the lifeblood of rural and regional towns, and we will fight to defend them.”

Shadow Minister for Finance, Senator Jane Hume said that Australia Post’s long term financial sustainability was critical to ensuring that Australians continue to have access to a world class postal service.

“After opposing similar proposals from the former Coalition Government in Opposition, it appears Labor has finally understood that Australia Post needs to be fit-for-purpose to respond to the contemporary needs of Australians.

“We look forward to examining this proposal in detail to ensure that Australia Post as a taxpayer-funded organisation is viable and sustainable into the future.”