Member for Shortland Pat Conroy has slammed changes made recently to Australia Post services, which will see Central Coast homes receive letter deliveries only every second business day until at least next June.
Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks confirmed that the reduced letter deliveries had already been introduced on the Coast, as many posties become temporary parcel carriers, delivering unprecedented parcel volumes during the coronavirus pandemic.
“While posties continue to deliver letters, this will temporarily change to be every second business day, or five times each fortnight,” Wicks said.
“These changes are only temporary until June 30, 2021 as part of regulatory relief during the pandemic.
“The changes were brought in to help Australia Post manage unprecedented parcel volumes being sent across the country, which on some days have almost doubled, as Australians adapt to living differently under COVID-19 restrictions.
“At the same time, demand for other core products, including letters, have been volatile and many have halved.
“Express Post, parcels and Post Office Box mail will continue to be delivered five days a week.”
But Conroy is concerned the changes will become permanent.
“Intrastate letters will now take a minimum of seven full days to arrive, up from a previous minimum of three business days,” he said.
“Having mail delivered five days a week meant posties could deliver parcels every day as well.
“Because of these service cuts, delivery timeframes for small to medium sized parcels could also be delayed.”
Conroy said Labor had moved to disallow the changes, which he said would see invoices from small businesses across the region take longer to land in customers’ inboxes.
Terry Collins