BALLARAT MP Catherine King has called on the federal government to ensure Australia Post maintains next day mail delivery in Ballarat.
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Speaking in parliament yesterday, Ms King said Australia Post was planning to cut next day delivery in regional centres which was leading to postal delays in Ballarat.
She said smaller towns in her electorate had been reporting waits of between six and seven days to receive mail.
“That is not the service that they have been used to,” she said. “This is of deep concern for those of us who live in regional Australians.
“Australians shouldn’t be treated differently if they live outside metropolitan cities.”
In a notice of motion, Ms King said the communications minister Malcolm Turnbull should act to ensure that any job cuts at Australia Post regional mail centres are reversed.
Australia Post has publicly floated the possibility of shifting mail sorting from regional Victoria to its major facility in Dandenong to bring down costs.
The Communication Workers Union has said these changes will cost jobs in regional centres, including at the Ballarat Mail Centre.
Ms King said the potential shifting of operations to metropolitan centres was already affecting communities throughout regional Victoria.
She cited one personal experience of not receiving an invitation to a friend’s birthday party until two days after the event occurred, despite the invitation being posted seven days previously.
In a statement, an Australia Post spokesperson said “there have been no changes to mail delivery standards”.
“Australia Post consistently meets its Community Service Obligation by delivering 94 per cent of letters on time across Ballarat,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said any changes made by Australia Post would not effect next day delivery of mail within Ballarat.
tom.cowie@fairfaxmedia.com.au